Secure web rtc real time communications service for audio and video streaming communications

ABSTRACT

Secure Real Time Communications Service (SRTCS) for audio and video streaming communications and content sharing that securely connects multiple users using a “push-button” WebRTC chat app connection over a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) network. SRTCS uniquely combines advanced security technologies to provide user based permissions control when communicating and sharing rich media content with other users including End-to-End Encryption (E2EE), Hash Technology (DHT), and Digital Rights Protection (DRM). SRTCS has also designed a unique cloud based streamed video storage and sharing platform service for consumers and business video storage and sharing applications.

BACKGROUND

The embodiments described herein relate generally to communicationssystems, and in particular to methods and systems for providing a securereal-time communications service (SRTCS) for audio and video streamingcommunications and content sharing that securely connects multiple usersusing a proprietary application that uses WebRTC technology to establisha Peer-to-Peer (P2P) connection.

Multiple video and audio messaging systems have been developed recently.However, many systems require proprietary hardware and software systems,and are complicated to set up for an average user. Systems that are easyto set up and use often provide low quality video and audio. Commercialgrade systems provide high quality video and audio, but these systemsare expensive to install and require specialized technical support tooperate and maintain.

WebRTC (web real-time communications) is a very exciting, powerful, andhighly disruptive cutting-edge technology and standard that has beendeveloped over the last decade. As opposed to specialized applicationsand hardware, WebRTC leverages a set of plugin-free APIs used in bothdesktop and mobile browsers to provide high-quality functional video andaudio streaming services. Previously, external plugins were required inorder to achieve similar functionality to that provided by WebRTC.

WebRTC uses multiple standards and protocols, including data streams,STUN/TURN servers, signaling, JSEP, ICE, SIP, SDP, NAT, UDP/TCP, andnetwork sockets.

However, there continues to be a need for security, encryption, DRMprotection, and the advantages provided by incorporating blockchaintechnology for storage and sharing of streamed video, streamed audio,real-time messages, and DRM-protected files.

SUMMARY

The embodiments described herein are directed to methods and systems forproviding a secure real-time communications service (SRTCS) for audioand video streaming communications and content sharing that securelyconnects users using a proprietary application that uses WebRTCtechnology to establish a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) connection.

SRTCS uniquely combines advanced security technologies to provide userbased permissions control when communicating and sharing rich mediacontent with other users including End-to-End Encryption (E2EE), HashTechnology (DHT), and Digital Rights Protection (DRM). SRTCS has alsodesigned a unique cloud based streamed video storage and sharingplatform service for consumers and business video storage and sharingapplications.

The invention provides push-button connectivity between users for videoand audio streaming using WebRTC technology for a cloud service todiscover and establish peer-to-peer connection between users having aproprietary mobile or desktop application. Using the inventive app, asender may select one or more receivers, who also have the inventiveapp, to have a video or audio chat, or share a file. Selecting thereceiver(s) to send an invite initiates a complex group of processes,programming, and protocols, including generating a specific discoverycommunication file, sending the discovery communication file in a seriesof specially encrypted communications to a networked cloud platform thatincludes a WebRTC Gateway Server, a Signalling Server, a Cloud StorageServer, and a Private Blockchain. The WebRTC Gateway Server forwardingthe discovery communication to the receiver using subscriber informationmanaged in a private blockchain and stored in distributed cloud storagewith all lookup and delivery communications and all stored dataspecially encrypted. The receiver app generating a specificresponse/acceptance file, sent encrypted back to the WebRTC GatewayServer, and the WebRTC Gateway Server working with the Signalling Serverto generate a peer to peer connection using the private and public IPaddresses of the sender and receiver. The sender may apply DRMpermissions to the streamed video or audio content in the peer to peerconnection and the app uses an encryption key that is integrated intoand required for the playback CODEC to process the content and where aDRM violation results in revocation of the encryption key. Multi-partyvideo and audio conferences may be broadcast using insertable streamsfor insertion of user defined processing steps for encoding/decoding ofWebRTC media stream tracks and for end-to-end encryption of the encodeddata.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof the Secure RTC Service system architecture and streamed video storageand sharing platform.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a video RTC messaging platform and how it works.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Web RTC signaling with JSEP Javascript Session EstablishmentProtocol showing a webRTC process as provided herein from a caller'svideo app through webRTC servers to a “callee” (receiver of a call)video app.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof Web RTC Network servers with STUN, TURN, and Signaling Servers, andshows a webRTC process as provided herein from a peer 1 browser to apeer 2 browser.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Web RTC Platform Network Diagram and shows a peer connectionbetween a video app caller and a video app callee, with signalingthrough an interactive connectivity establishment (ICE) cloud havingSTUN and/or TURN servers.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a WebRTC Protocol Stack and shows a layer description of an RTC peerconnection with data channel, secure real-time transport protocol,stream control transmission protocol, datagram transport layer security,ICE network, UDP protocol, and network layer protocol (TCP/IP).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a WebRTC Signaling Flow Diagram and shows a handshake provisioningand Signaling diagram showing sequencing of each step to achieve ICEhole punching and exchange of media.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a WebRTC Architecture and shows a system of components/modulesconnecting the web and the browser, including webRTC features, voiceengine functionality, audio, vido, network, and digital signalprocessing. The system of FIG. 8 includes: a Voice Engine, an iSACwideband and super wideband audio codec for VoIP and streaming audio, aniLBC narrowband speech codec for VoIP and streaming audio, Opus forconstant and variable bitrate encoding from 6 kbit/s to 510 kbit/s, aJitter Buffer, an Acoustic Echo Canceler (AEC), a Noise Reductioncomponent, a Video Engine, a low latency VP8 video codec configured(adapted) for RTC, a Dynamic Video Jitter Buffer, and an Imageenhancements component that removes video noise from the image captureby the webcam.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Web RTC Middlebox Security Issues and shows a DTLS peer encryptiondesigned for PcP connection between you users with SFU, DTLS peerencryption fails to encrypt multiple video streams.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof MITM attacks on WebRTC peer communications with a signaling serverand shows a handshake diagram showing Signaling to provision the webRTCpeer connection.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Distributed Trust Platform and shows a blockchain and digitalrights integration into the secure webRTC P2P connection.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof an Insertable Media Streams for Media Conferencing with an SFU andshows steps from camera through network to a recipient viewing screenfor insertable media stream for media conferencing with an SFU.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof End-to-End encryption with webRTC insertable stream in a middle boxdevice in a video stream.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Blockchain with Distributed Identity and Directory Distributed HashTables with Group Node Coupling and shows blockchain peers havingidentity function, a distributed ledger for group node coupling, adirectory, encryption, personal ID, hash tables, and digital rightspermissions.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Private Blockchain with Distributed Hash Tables and Group Node andshows an example of blockchain peers having identity function, adistributed ledger for group node coupling, a directory, encryption,personal ID, hash tables, blockchain DHT, homomorphic encryption for aP2P video connection.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a DRM Functional Architecture.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof Distributed Video Storage with Blockchain and DRM and showsfunctional modules for DRM, blockchain, distributed video storage,digital rights protection, with webRTC connected video apps in a P2Pnetwork.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a streamed video storage and video sharing platform accessed by aVODEO chat app over a P2P network.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof Server Side Streamed Video Rendering with DRM and Blockchain in avideo sharing platform.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof Streamed Video Sharing Flow from Storage Accessed by an SRTCS MobileApp and shows an example of a shared video video platform with “Mary's”videos in storage, blockchain addressing, link, and search functions,DRM security, distributed storage, popular content server, digitalrights protection, connecting two connected mobile apps.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof Digital Rights Protection (DRM) for Secure Video Chat and shows a DRMprotection layer interfacing with a WebRTC and Javascript API layer.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a VODEO app workflow and shows three parallel streams showing a videochat, a secret chat or audio call, stream video storage and DRMS rightsprotection.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof streamed video sharing between two video apps of subscriber 1 andsubscriber 2, and with cloud-based server side streamed video renderingwith DRU.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Secret Audio Call or Secret Video Chat Using a VODEO app and showsDRM protection with Open Digital Rights and connection using webRTCbetween a sender and receiver using a video app.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof Streamed Video Sharing Violation and shows a DRM violation where aview-only video session is revoked in a platform having DRM protectionand Open Digital Rights.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Real Time Communication (RTC) Service for Secure Audio and Videoover a Browser-based P2P Connection and shows a platform having an RTCnetwork, a VPN, DR protection, blockchain with DHT, split-keyencryption, JavaScript APIs, and webRTC to establish and manage aPeer-to-Peer connection for audio, video, or data sharing between asender/caller and a receiver/callee.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Real Time Communication (RTC) Service for Audio, Video Conferencingover a Browser-based P2P Connection with VPN, DRM, Blockchain and E2Eand shows a platform/system having an RTC network, DR protection,blockchain with DHT, End-to-End (E2E) encryption, JavaScript APIs, andwebRTC to establish and manage a Peer-to-Peer connection for audio,video, or data sharing between a sender/caller and a receiver/callee.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Video Chat Workflow Diagram.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a WebRTC Video Chat Flow with Blockchain, Signaling Server and VODEOapps.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof VODEO apps connected in P2P connection and in a Blockchain Netowkrwith Group Node Coupling and Distributed Hash Tables.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof IP Address Discovery with VODEO apps.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof Blockchain with Distributed Identity and Directory, Distributed HashTables with Group Node Coupling.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof Private Blockchain with Distributed Hash Tables and Group NodeCoupling.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG).

FIG. 35 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Cloud Storage Server Stack, e.g. such as an IPFS Stack in anon-limiting embodiment.

FIG. 36 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof an Addressing Process Flow.

FIG. 37 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof Distributed Nodes.

FIG. 38 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof Distributed Secure Storage Using Cloud Storage Server, such as IPFS,and Blockchain.

FIG. 39 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof WebRTC streamed directly to a client.

FIG. 40 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof the Extensible Architecture of an WebRTC Gateway Server, e.g. such asa Janus Server.

FIG. 41 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a WebRTC Gateway Server to Establish Video Chat with VODEO apps.

FIG. 42 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a VODEO app and WebRTC Gateway Server—Video Chat Connection.

FIG. 43 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Video Chat Workflow—VODEO app, WebRTC Gateway Server, Blockchain.

FIG. 44 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a WebRTC Gateway Server, such as e.g. a Janus Server, to EstablishVideo Chat with VODEO apps.

FIG. 45 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a VODEO app and WebRTC Gateway Server—Video Chat Connection.

FIG. 46 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Video Chat Workflow Diagram.

FIG. 47 is an illustration of a non-limiting preferred embodiment of anAndroid smart phone screen showing IP address.

FIG. 48 is an illustration of a non-limiting preferred embodiment of aniOS smart phone screen showing IP address.

FIG. 49 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Media Flow Path in P2P WebRTC Communication.

FIG. 50 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Secret Video chat with DRM.

FIG. 51 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a JANUS (WebRTC gateway server) video room plug-in for End-to-Endencryption and for videoconferencing (SFU).

FIG. 52 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a WebRTC Insertable Streams for E2E encryption.

FIG. 53 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof Data Channels Broadcasting with a WebRTC Gateway Server, such as e.g.a Janus Server.

FIG. 54 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof Scaling Server-side WebRTC applications with Janus and shows a JANUSWebRTC Gateway.

FIG. 55 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Janus Extensible Architecture and API.

FIG. 56 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Janus WebRTC Gateway Use Case.

FIG. 57 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof WebRTC Gateway Server-WebRTC Video Conferencing.

FIG. 58 is a diagram illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodiment ofa WebRTC Video Chat workflow.

FIG. 59 is a diagram illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodiment ofa SRTCS Network with WebRTC apps, Janus Gateway, Blockchain, Janusplugins, and end-to-end encryption (E2EE).

FIG. 60 is a diagram illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodiment ofa WebRTC Gateway Server for establishing video chat with the VODEO apps.

FIG. 61 is a diagram illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodiment ofa SRTCS WebRTC app in communication with a Janus Gateway Server andillustrates an example of secret video chat.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Disclosed are embodiments directed to methods and systems for providinga secure real-time communications service (SRTCS) for audio and videostreaming communications and content sharing that securely connectsusers using a proprietary application that uses WebRTC technology toestablish a Peer-to-Peer (P2P) connection and to a Cloud Server forsharing files.

SRTCS uniquely combines advanced security technologies to provide userbased permissions control when communicating and sharing rich mediacontent with other users including End-to-End Encryption (E2EE),Distributed Hash Technology (DHT), and Digital Rights Protection (DRM).SRTCS has also designed a unique cloud based streamed video storage andsharing platform service for consumers and business video storage andsharing applications.

The invention provides an easy to use push-button connectivity betweenusers for video and audio streaming using WebRTC technology for a cloudservice to discover and establish peer-to-peer connection between usershaving a proprietary mobile or desktop application. Using the inventiveapp, a sender may select one or more receivers, who also have theinventive app, to have a video or audio chat, or share a file. Selectingthe receiver(s) to send an invite initiates a complex group ofprocesses, programming, and protocols, including generating a specificdiscovery communication file, sending the discovery communication filein a series of specially encrypted communications to a networked cloudplatform that includes a WebRTC Gateway Server, a Signalling Server, aCloud Storage Server, and a Private Blockchain. The WebRTC GatewayServer forwarding the discovery communication to the receiver usingsubscriber information managed in a private blockchain and stored indistributed cloud storage with all lookup and delivery communicationsand all stored data specially encrypted. The receiver app generating aspecific response/acceptance file, sent encrypted back to the WebRTCGateway Server, and the WebRTC Gateway Server working with theSignalling Server to generate a peer to peer connection using theprivate and public IP addresses of the sender and receiver. The sendermay apply DRM permissions to the streamed video or audio content in thepeer to peer connection and the app uses an encryption key that isintegrated into and required for the playback CODEC to process thecontent and where a DRM violation results in revocation of theencryption key. Multi-party video and audio conferences may be broadcastusing insertable streams for insertion of user defined processing stepsfor encoding/decoding of WebRTC media stream tracks and for end-to-endencryption of the encoded data.

In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides a method, comprising:

Sending, in a WebRTC chat application on a first communication device, atelephone number of the first communication device, a private device IPaddress of the first communication device, and a JSON SMS message invitewhich includes a second telephone phone number of a second communicationdevice, the JSON SMS message containing an invite to join a video/audiochat session, to a WebRTC-Gateway Server to mediate media communicationsand exchange JSON messages and RTP/RTCP messages with the secondcommunication device,

Sending, in a WebRTC chat application on the second communicationdevice, a JSON SMS message reply containing an answer (accept/decline)to the invite and a private IP address of the second communicationdevice to the WebRTC-Gateway Server,

Establishing a communication between the WebRTC-Gateway Server and aSignaling Server, said Signaling server used to provide communicationdiscovery and media format negotiation between the first communicationdevice and the second communication device by a first communicationdevice connection offer and a second communication device acceptancereply based on connecting a public-private IP address of the firstcommunication device to a public-private IP address of the secondcommunication device,

Establishing an encrypted WebRTC peer-to-peer video and/or audioconnection between the WebRTC chat application of the firstcommunication device and the WebRTC chat application of the secondcommunication device, and deploying an advanced security technologymodule to provide user-based permission control when communicating andsharing rich media content including AES 256 Galois/Counter mode (GCM),Elliptical-curve Diffie Hellman encryption, and a asymmetrical keymanagement system,

Providing a Private Blockchain module connected to the WebRTC-GatewayServer to provide a permission-based access control layer to governnetwork access by the first communication device and the secondcommunication device and to generate an immutable record of all WebRTCtransactions between the first communication device and the secondcommunication device,

Providing a Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) module connected to theWebRTC-Gateway Server for recording WebRTC transactions including videochat and audio chat where blocks containing transactions and userpersonally identifiable information (PII) are stored and recorded indistributed blocks in multiple locations,

Searching and connecting users using group node coupling to access datawhen a user initiates a video chat or audio chat,

Providing a DRM module to apply user permissions relating to video/audiostreaming on a P2P connection, said user permissions including blockingvideo recording, playback, screenshot disablement, expiration,revocation, and watermarking, and

Providing a secret video chat module using DRM control and ECDHencryption to prevent video recording/playback using an encrypted keywith expiration and revocation controls.

Any of the methods provided herein may include an embodiment, whereinthe WebRTC chat application comprises video chat and voice chat.

Any of the methods provided herein may include an embodiment comprisingsaving a chat session comprising the video chat and the voice chat, inan encrypted communication between the first communication device and aCloud Storage Server connected to the first communication device,wherein the video chat and voice chat are stored by the Cloud StorageServer.

Any of the methods provided herein may include an embodiment wherein theCloud Storage Server uses a Distributed Hash Table, and wherein thetelephone number of the first communication device is a key mapped to asecond value that is the chat session.

Any of the methods provided herein may include an embodiment comprising:assigning, in a menu of the WebRTC chat application on the firstcommunication device, a DRM permission to the chat session saved to theCloud Storage Server, wherein the DRM permission is selected from thegroup consisting of: record, not record, store, screen share, revoke,expire, offline view, blacklist, copy, forward, screen capture, rightsviolation, and cancel/disappear.

Any of the methods provided herein may include an embodiment comprising:rendering, in a rendering module of the Cloud Storage Server, an HTMLfile of the saved chat session, the HTML file stored in the CloudStorage Server and having a URL link associated therewith.

Any of the methods provided herein may include an embodiment comprising:enforcing the DRM permission of the chat session, said Cloud StorageServer in encrypted communication with the second communication device,said second communication device having the WebRTC chat applicationoperatively connected to the WebRTC browser of the second communicationdevice to access, using the URL link, the HTML file of the saved chatsession saved in the Cloud Storage Server, wherein the saved chatsession is rendered on the Cloud Storage Server, and said WebRTC chatapplication enforces the DRM permission of the saved chat session usinga DRM enforcement module in the WebRTC chat application, and said DRMenforcement module configured to send an enforcement command when a DRMpermission violation is detected to revoke an encryption key thatencrypts an electronic signal between the WebRTC chat application andthe WebRTC browser, wherein the electronic signal is between a CODEC inthe WebRTC browser and a playback component or module for a speaker ordisplay of the second communication device.

Any of the methods provided herein may include an embodiment wherein theWebRTC chat application comprises a Private Blockchain module incommunication with the Cloud Storage Server to provide user identity,authentication, a digital hash, node coupling, personally-identifiableinformation (PII) security, content linking, content searching, andcontent addressing.

Any of the methods provided herein may include an embodiment wherein theWebRTC chat application comprises a hardware security module incommunication with the Cloud Storage Server to provide AES 256 GCUencryption, and ECDH Diffie-Hellman encryption for audio and videostreams.

Any of the methods provided herein may include an embodiment wherein theWebRTC chat application comprises a key management module incommunication with the WebRTC-Gateway Server and the Signaling Server toprovide homomorphic encryption of a communication between theWebRTC-Gateway Server and the Signaling Server, said homomorphicencryption allowing the Signaling Server to extract the private IPaddress without decrypting the JSON SMS message.

Any of the methods provided herein may include an embodiment wherein theWebRTC chat application has an insertable streams module to provideend-to-end encryption for a middlebox device and for SelectiveForwarding Units (SFUs) for media routing in a videoconferenceapplication where insertable streams iterate on frames and not RTPpackets to transform an encoded frame to an asynchronous insertablestream to support end-to-end encryption.

Any of the methods provided herein may include an embodiment wherein thefirst communication device is selected from a mobile communicationdevice, a desktop computer communication device, and a tabletcommunication device.

In another preferred embodiment, the invention may include a method,comprising:

Sending, in a WebRTC chat application on a first communication device, atelephone number of the first communication device, a private device IPaddress of the first communication device, and a JSON SMS message invitewhich includes a second telephone phone number of a second communicationdevice, the JSON SMS message containing an invite to join a video/audiochat session, to a WebRTC-Gateway Server to mediate media communicationsand exchange JSON messages and RTP/RTCP messages with the secondcommunication device,

Sending, in a WebRTC chat application on the second communicationdevice, a JSON SMS message reply containing an answer (accept/decline)to the invite and a private IP address of the second communicationdevice to the WebRTC-Gateway Server,

Establishing a communication between the WebRTC-Gateway Server and aSignaling Server, said Signaling server used to provide communicationdiscovery and media format negotiation between the first communicationdevice and the second communication device by a first communicationdevice connection offer and a second communication device acceptancereply based on connecting a public-private IP address of the firstcommunication device to a public-private IP address of the secondcommunication device,

Establishing an encrypted WebRTC peer-to-peer video and/or audioconnection between the WebRTC chat application of the firstcommunication device and the WebRTC chat application of the secondcommunication device, and deploying an advanced security technologymodule to provide user-based permission control when communicating andsharing rich media content including AES 256 Galois/Counter mode (GCM),Elliptical-curve Diffie Hellman encryption, and a asymmetrical keymanagement system,

Providing a Private Blockchain module connected to the WebRTC-GatewayServer to provide a permission-based access control layer to governnetwork access by the first communication device and the secondcommunication device and to generate an immutable record of all WebRTCtransactions between the first communication device and the secondcommunication device,

Providing a Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) module connected to theWebRTC-Gateway Server for recording WebRTC transactions including videochat and audio chat where blocks containing transactions and userpersonally identifiable information (PII) are stored and recorded indistributed blocks in multiple locations,

Searching and connecting users using group node coupling to access datawhen a user initiates a video chat or audio chat,

Providing a DRM module to apply user permissions relating to video/audiostreaming on a P2P connection, said user permissions including blockingvideo recording, playback, screenshot disablement, expiration,revocation, and watermarking, and

Providing a secret video chat module using DRM control and ECDHencryption to prevent video recording/playback using an encrypted keywith expiration and revocation controls;

wherein the WebRTC chat application comprises video chat and voice chat,

wherein a chat session comprising the video chat and the voice chat, issaved in an encrypted communication between the first communicationdevice and a Cloud Storage Server connected to the first communicationdevice, wherein the video chat and voice chat are stored by the CloudStorage Server,

wherein the Cloud Storage Server uses a Distributed Hash Table, andwherein the telephone number of the first communication device is a keymapped to a second value that is the chat session, and

Assigning, in a menu of the WebRTC chat application on the firstcommunication device, a DRM permission to the chat session saved to theCloud Storage Server, wherein the DRM permission is selected from thegroup consisting of: record, not record, store, screen share, revoke,expire, offline view, blacklist, copy, forward, screen capture, rightsviolation, and cancel/disappear,

Rendering, in a rendering module of the Cloud Storage Server, an HTMLfile of the saved chat session, the HTML file stored in the CloudStorage Server and having a URL link associated therewith,

Enforcing the DRM permission of the chat session, said Cloud StorageServer in encrypted communication with the second communication device,said second communication device having the WebRTC chat applicationoperatively connected to the WebRTC browser of the second communicationdevice to access, using the URL link, the HTML file of the saved chatsession saved in the Cloud Storage Server, wherein the saved chatsession is rendered on the Cloud Storage Server, and said WebRTC chatapplication enforces the DRM permission of the saved chat session usinga DRM enforcement module in the WebRTC chat application, and said DRMenforcement module configured to send an enforcement command when a DRMpermission violation is detected to revoke an encryption key thatencrypts an electronic signal between the WebRTC chat application andthe WebRTC browser, wherein the electronic signal is between a CODEC inthe WebRTC browser and a playback component or module for a speaker ordisplay of the second communication device,

wherein the WebRTC chat application comprises a Private Blockchainmodule in communication with the Cloud Storage Server to provide useridentity, authentication, a digital hash, node coupling,personally-identifiable information (PII) security, content linking,content searching, and content addressing,

wherein the WebRTC chat application comprises a hardware security modulein communication with the Cloud Storage Server to provide AES 256 GCUencryption, and ECDH Diffie-Hellman encryption for audio and videostreams,

wherein the WebRTC chat application comprises a key management module incommunication with the WebRTC-Gateway Server and the Signaling Server toprovide homomorphic encryption of a communication between theWebRTC-gateway Server and the Signaling Server, said homomorphicencryption allowing the Signaling Server to extract the private IPaddress without decrypting the JSON SMS message,

wherein the WebRTC chat application has an insertable streams module toprovide end-to-end encryption for a middlebox device and for SelectiveForwarding Units (SFUs) for media routing in a videoconferenceapplication where insertable streams iterate on frames and not RTPpackets to transform an encoded frame to an asynchronous insertablestream to support end-to-end encryption, and

wherein the first communication device is selected from a mobilecommunication device, a desktop computer communication device, and atablet communication device.

In another preferred embodiment, the invention includes a communicationsystem and sharing platform, comprising:

a WebRTC chat application of a first communication device having programinstructions saved to memory and executable on a processor to establishan encrypted peer-to-peer chat communication with a second communicationdevice having said WebRTC chat application,

a WebRTC-Gateway Server having program instructions saved to memory andexecutable on a processor to provide communication discovery and mediaformat negotiation between the first communication device and the secondcommunication device,

a Signaling Server connected to the WebRTC-Gateway Server, e.g. JanusServer, said Signaling Server having program instructions saved tomemory and executable on a processor to provide a public-private IPaddress to the first communication device in response to a JSON SMSinvite to join a video/audio chat session and to provide apublic-private IP address the second communication device in response toan acceptance reply,

said WebRTC chat application having program instructions to:

Send, in the WebRTC chat application on the first communication device,a telephone number of the first communication device, a private deviceIP address of the first communication device, and a JSON SMS messageinvite which includes a second telephone phone number of a secondcommunication device, the JSON SMS message containing an invite to jointhe video/audio chat session, to the WebRTC-Gateway Server to mediatemedia communications and exchange JSON messages and RTP/RTCP messageswith the second communication device,

Send, in the WebRTC chat application on the second communication device,a JSON SMS message reply containing an answer (accept/decline) to theinvite and a private IP address of the second communication device tothe WebRTC-gateway Server,

said WebRTC-Gateway Server and a Signaling Server having programinstructions to provide communication discovery and media formatnegotiation between the first communication device and the secondcommunication device by a first communication device connection offerand a second communication device acceptance reply based on connectingthe public-private IP address of the first communication device to thepublic-private IP address of the second communication device,

and establish an encrypted WebRTC peer-to-peer video and/or audioconnection between the WebRTC chat application of the firstcommunication device and the WebRTC chat application of the secondcommunication device, and deploy an advanced security technology moduleto provide user-based permission control when communicating and sharingrich media content including AES 256 Galois/Counter mode (GCM),Elliptical-curve Diffie Hellman encryption, and a asymmetrical keymanagement system,

Provide a Private Blockchain module connected to the WebRTC-GatewayServer to provide a permission-based access control layer to governnetwork access by the first communication device and the secondcommunication device and to generate an immutable record of all WebRTCtransactions between the first communication device and the secondcommunication device,

Provide a Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) module connected to theWebRTC-Gateway Server for recording WebRTC transactions including videochat and audio chat where blocks containing transactions and userpersonally identifiable information (PII) are stored and recorded indistributed blocks in multiple locations,

Search and connect users using group node coupling to access data when auser initiates a video chat or audio chat,

Provide a DRM module to apply user permissions relating to video/audiostreaming on a P2P connection, said user permissions including blockingvideo recording, playback, screenshot disablement, expiration,revocation, and watermarking, and

Provide a secret video chat module using DRM control and ECDH encryptionto prevent video recording/playback using an encrypted key withexpiration and revocation controls;

wherein the WebRTC chat application comprises video chat and voice chat,

wherein a chat session comprising the video chat and the voice chat, issaved in an encrypted communication between the first communicationdevice and a Cloud Storage Server connected to the first communicationdevice, wherein the video chat and voice chat are stored by the CloudStorage Server,

wherein the Cloud Storage Server uses a Distributed Hash Table, andwherein the telephone number of the first communication device is a keymapped to a second value that is the chat session, and

in a menu of the WebRTC chat application on the first communicationdevice, assign a DRM permission to the chat session saved to the CloudStorage Server, wherein the DRM permission is selected from the groupconsisting of: record, not record, store, screen share, revoke, expire,offline view, blacklist, copy, forward, screen capture, rightsviolation, and cancel/disappear,

Render, in a rendering module of the Cloud Storage Server, an HTML fileof the saved chat session, the HTML file stored in the Cloud StorageServer and having a URL link associated therewith,

Enforce the DRM permission of the chat session using a DRM enforcementmodule in the Cloud Storage Server, said Cloud Storage Server inencrypted communication with the second communication device, saidsecond communication device having the WebRTC chat applicationoperatively connected to the WebRTC browser of the second communicationdevice to access, using the URL link, the HTML file of the saved chatsession saved in the Cloud Storage Server, wherein the saved chatsession is rendered on the Cloud Storage Server, and said WebRTC chatapplication enforces the DRM permission of the saved chat session usinga DRM enforcement module in the WebRTC chat application, and said DRMenforcement module configured to send an enforcement command when a DRMpermission violation is detected to revoke an encryption key thatencrypts an electronic signal between the WebRTC chat application andthe WebRTC browser, wherein the electronic signal is between a CODEC inthe WebRTC browser and a playback component or module for a speaker ordisplay of the second communication device,

wherein the WebRTC chat application comprises a Private Blockchainmodule in communication with the Cloud Storage Server to provide useridentity, authentication, a digital hash, node coupling,personally-identifiable information (PII) security, content linking,content searching, and content addressing,

wherein the WebRTC chat application comprises a hardware security modulein communication with the Cloud Storage Server to provide AES 256 GCUencryption, and ECDH Diffie-Hellman encryption for audio and videostreams,

wherein the WebRTC chat application comprises a key management module incommunication with the WebRTC-Gateway Server and the Signaling Server toprovide homomorphic encryption of a communication between theWebRTC-gateway Server and the Signaling Server, said homomorphicencryption allowing the Signaling Server to extract the private IPaddress without decrypting the JSON SMS message,

wherein the WebRTC chat application has an insertable streams module toprovide end-to-end encryption for a middlebox device and for SelectiveForwarding Units (SFUs) for media routing in a videoconferenceapplication where insertable streams iterate on frames and not RTPpackets to transform an encoded frame to an asynchronous insertablestream to support end-to-end encryption, and

wherein the first communication device is selected from a mobilecommunication device, a desktop computer communication device, and atablet communication device.

In another preferred embodiment, the invention includes a communicationsystem and sharing platform, comprising:

a WebRTC chat application of a first communication device having programinstructions saved to memory and executable on a processor to establishan encrypted peer-to-peer chat communication with a second communicationdevice having said WebRTC chat application,

said WebRTC chat application having a discovery module with programinstructions to send a discovery request to obtain an IP address pairedwith a telephone number of the second communication device, wherein theWebRTC chat application is installed on the second communication device,

said WebRTC chat application having a blockchain module to connect thefirst communication device as a first node to the second communicationdevice as a second node in a Private Blockchain network,

the WebRTC chat application having an invite module to send an invitemessage to a chat session from the first communication device to the IPaddress of the second communication device through a WebRTC browserextension to a WebRTC signaling server operatively connected to thePrivate Blockchain network; and

the WebRTC chat application having an accept-connection module toestablish encrypted WebRTC peer-to-peer connection between the WebRTCbrowser of the first communication device and a second WebRTC browser ofthe second communication device in response to an acceptance by thesecond communication device of the invite sent by the firstcommunication device, and

the WebRTC chat application having a video chat module and a voice chatmodule.

Any of the communication systems and sharing platforms provided hereinmay include a Saving Module in the WebRTC chat application to transmitthe chat session, in an encrypted communication between the firstcommunication device and a Cloud Storage Server, using a distributedhash table, wherein the telephone number of the first communicationdevice is a key mapped to a second value that is a saved chat session.

Any of the communication systems and sharing platforms provided hereinmay include a DRM Module in the WebRTC chat application to assign, usinga menu of the WebRTC chat application on the first communication device,a DRM permission to the chat session saved to the Cloud Storage Servernetwork, wherein the DRM permission is selected from the groupconsisting of: record, not record, store, screen share, revoke, expire,offline view, blacklist, copy, forward, screen capture, rightsviolation, and cancel/disappear.

Any of the communication systems and sharing platforms provided hereinmay include a Rendering Module in the WebRTC chat application to renderin the Cloud Storage Server, an HTML file of the saved chat session, theHTML file stored in the Cloud Storage Server and having a URL linkassociated therewith.

Any of the communication systems and sharing platforms provided hereinmay include a DRM Enforcement Module in the WebRTC chat application toenforce the DRM permission of the chat session, and having programminginstructions wherein said Cloud Storage Server is in encryptedcommunication with the second communication device, said secondcommunication device having the WebRTC chat application operativelyconnected to the WebRTC browser of the second communication device toaccess, using the URL link, the HTML file of the saved chat session andrendering the saved chat session on the Cloud Storage Server, and saidWebRTC chat application enforces the DRM permission of the saved chatsession using the DRM enforcement module in the WebRTC chat application,and said DRM enforcement module configured to send an enforcementcommand when a DRM permission violation is detected to revoke anencryption key that encrypts an electronic signal between the WebRTCchat application and the WebRTC browser, wherein the electronic signalis between a CODEC in the WebRTC browser and a playback component ormodule for a speaker or display of the second communication device.

Any of the communication systems and sharing platforms provided hereinmay include a Private Blockchain Module in the WebRTC chat applicationto communicate with the Cloud Storage Server and provide user identity,authentication, a digital hash, node coupling, personally-identifiableinformation (PII) security, content linking, content searching, andcontent addressing.

Any of the communication systems and sharing platforms provided hereinmay include a Hardware Security Module in the WebRTC chat application tocommunicate with the Cloud Storage Server to provide AES 256 GCUencryption, and ECDH Diffie-Hellman encryption for audio and videostreams.

Any of the communication systems and sharing platforms provided hereinmay include a key management module in communication with theWebRTC-Gateway Server and the Signaling Server to provide homomorphicencryption of a communication between the WebRTC-gateway Server and theSignaling Server, said homomorphic encryption allowing the SignalingServer to extract the private IP address without decrypting the JSON SMSmessage.

Any of the communication systems and sharing platforms provided hereinmay include wherein the first communication device is selected from amobile communication device, a desktop computer communication device,and a tablet communication device.

In yet another preferred embodiment, the invention includes a system forsecure real-time communications and a sharing platform, comprising:

a DRM-WebRTC chat application of a first communication device havingprogram instructions saved to memory and executable on a processor toassign a DRM permission to an electronic object stored on the firstcommunication device, and to encrypt an electronic signal between theDRM-WebRTC chat application and a Cloud Server in operative associationwith the DRM-WebRTC chat application;

said first communication device connected by a peer-to-peer connectionto a second communication device using a WebRTC platform established bythe DRM-WebRTC chat application for transmitting and receiving areal-time duplex media stream, said real-time duplex media streamencrypted in transit from the first communication device to the secondcommunication device, said real-time duplex media stream selected fromthe group consisting of a video chat, an audio chat, and a datatransfer;

said first communication device in encrypted communication with theCloud Server using the DRM-WebRTC chat application having programinstructions saved to memory and executable on the processor to transmitand receive the electronic object with the Cloud Server, said DRMpermission stored on the first communication device;

said Cloud Server having program instructions saved to cloud memory andexecutable on a cloud processor to receive and store the electronicobject sent from the first communication device, and to render, by aCloud Server rendering module, an HTML file of the electronic object,the HTML file stored in the cloud memory and having a URL linkassociated therewith, and said Cloud Server having program instructionsto enforce the DRM permission of the electronic object,

said Cloud Server in encrypted communication with the secondcommunication device, said second communication device having theDRM-WebRTC chat application saved to memory and executable on aprocessor of the second communication device, the DRM-WebRTC chatapplication having a browser associated therewith to access, using theURL link, the HTML file of the electronic object saved on the CloudServer, and to enforce the DRM permission of the electronic object usinga DRM enforcement module of the DRM-WebRTC chat application, wherein theelectronic object is rendered on the Cloud Server;

said DRM enforcement module configured to send an enforcement command,encrypted in transit, through the Cloud Server to the secondcommunication device when a DRM permission violation is detected, saidDRM enforcement module revoking the encryption key that encrypted theelectronic signal between the DRM-WebRTC chat application and the webbrowser, wherein the electronic signal is between a CODEC in the browserand a playback component or module for a speaker or display of thesecond communication device.

Any of the computer-implemented systems provided herein may includewherein the DRM permission is selected from the group consisting of:record, not record, store, screen share, revoke, expire, offline view,blacklist, copy, forward, screen capture, rights violation, andcancel/disappear.

Any of the computer-implemented systems provided herein may includewherein the electronic object is stored on the Cloud Server usingdistributed storage.

Any of the computer-implemented systems provided herein may includewherein the DRM-WebRTC chat application comprises a secret chat modulethat disables saving the real-time duplex media stream to the first andsecond communication devices.

Any of the computer-implemented systems provided herein may includewherein the WebRTC platform comprises a Private Blockchain module incommunication with a WebRTC network server to provide user identity,authentication, a digital hash, node coupling, personally-identifiableinformation (PII) security, content linking, content searching, andcontent addressing.

Any of the computer-implemented systems provided herein may includewherein the WebRTC platform comprises a hardware security module incommunication with a WebRTC network server to provide AES 256 GCUencryption, and ECDH Diffie-Hellman encryption for audio and videostreams.

Any of the computer-implemented systems provided herein may includewherein the WebRTC platform comprises a key management module incommunication with the WebRTC-Gateway Server and the Signaling Server toprovide homomorphic encryption of a communication between theWebRTC-gateway Server and the Signaling Server, said homomorphicencryption allowing the Signaling Server to extract the private IPaddress without decrypting the JSON SMS message.

Any of the computer-implemented systems provided herein may includewherein the WebRTC chat application has an insertable streams module toprovide end-to-end encryption for a middlebox device and for SelectiveForwarding Units (SFUs) for media routing in a videoconferenceapplication where insertable streams iterate on frames and not RTPpackets to transform an encoded frame to an asynchronous insertablestream to support end-to-end encryption.

Any of the computer-implemented systems provided herein may includewherein the Cloud Server comprises a CDN server.

Any of the computer-implemented systems provided herein may includewherein the first communication device is selected from a mobilecommunication device, a desktop computer communication device, and atablet communication device.

Any of the embodiments of the invention herein may use JavaScript and/orJSON messages for the discovery and establishment of the peer-to-peerconnection mediated by (transmitted between) a cloud server/gatewayserver and the mobile or desktop app of the users.

Any of the embodiments of the invention herein may use PrivateBlockchain technology to manage user identity and establishtamper-resistant records within contact-list defined groups, and formanaging media storage and access in a cloud server.

Any of the embodiments of the invention herein may use distributed hashtables to establish key-values with keys distributed among nodesfindable with a routing algorithm.

Any of the embodiments of the invention herein may use a Gateway Server,such as for example a Janus Gateway Server, to relay discovery andconnection messages and integrate server-side plugins for video calls,voice mail, streaming media, SIP, audio bridging, video conferencing,recording, and playback.

Any of the embodiments of the invention herein may use a signalingserver operatively connected to the Gateway Server to facilitatesender/receiver discovery, IP address matching, and media formatnegotiation and conversion.

Any of the embodiments of the invention herein may use end-to-endencryption in the peer-to-peer connection between connected user apps,and in the connection between a user app and the cloud or gatewayservers.

Any of the embodiments of the invention herein may use digital rightsmanagement (DRM) to apply permissions to stored media and to enforce apermissions violation by revoking an encryption key required for CODECfunctionality.

Any of the embodiments herein may include an invention that provides amethod, comprising: (i) Sending an SMS invite message in JSON format, ina WebRTC chat application on a first communication device, to atelephone number of a second communication device, the SMS inviteproviding an IP address of the first communication device, (ii) Sendingan SMS reply in JSON format, in the WebRTC chat application on thesecond communication device, to a telephone number of the firstcommunication device, the SMS reply notifying acceptance of the SMSinvite and providing an IP address of the second communication device,(iii) Sending, in the WebRTC chat application on the first communicationdevice, an invite to a chat session to the IP address of the secondcommunication device through a WebRTC browser extension to a WebRTCsignaling server operatively connected to a Private Blockchain network;and (iv) Establishing an encrypted WebRTC peer-to-peer connectionbetween the WebRTC browser of the first communication device and asecond WebRTC browser of the second communication device in response toan acceptance by the second communication device of the invite sent bythe first communication device.

Any of the embodiments herein may include wherein the WebRTC chatapplication comprises video chat and voice chat.

Any of the embodiments herein may include wherein the WebRTC chatapplication uses a distributed hash table wherein a Cloud Server storesthe telephone number of the second communication device as a key mappedto a value that is the IP address of the second communication device.

Any of the embodiments herein may include wherein the method comprisingsaving a chat session comprising the video chat and the voice chat, inan encrypted communication between the first communication device and anCloud Server in an network connected to the first communication device,wherein the video chat and voice chat are stored by the Cloud Server inthe network connected to the first communication device, the networkusing a distributed hash table, and wherein the telephone number of thefirst communication device is a key mapped to a second value that is thechat session.

Any of the embodiments herein may include wherein the invention providesa secure real-time communication system comprising (i) aBrowser-to-Browser, Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Communications Network andPlatform based on WebRTC, (ii) a Distributed Trust Platform, (iii) aPrivate Permissioned_Blockchain, (iv) a Digital Rights Protection (DRM)component, (v) a Streamed Video Storage and On-Line Video SharingPlatform and Service, and (vi) a Real Time messaging App for mobileplatforms and desktop computers, integrated to provide secure, easy touse video and audio messaging and storage service for consumers andbusinesses.

Any of the embodiments herein may include wherein theBrowser-to-Browser, Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Communications Network andPlatform based on WebRTC may employ JavaScript API's, WebRTC Protocols,WebRTC Network Servers, and WebRTC Security Features.

Any of the embodiments herein may include wherein the Distributed TrustPlatform may employ AES 256 Galois/Counter Mode (AES-GCM),Elliptic-curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDH), Homomorphic Encryption, InsertibleMedia Streams, a Key Management System, Asymmetric Keys, a HardwareSecurity Module (HSM), and a Digital Signature.

Any of the embodiments herein may include wherein the PrivatePermissioned_Blockchain may include Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT),Group Node Coupling and Distributed Identities, Distributed HashTables—Cryptographic Hashing, Public Key Cryptography, and Merkle Trees.

Any of the embodiments herein may include wherein the invention employsDigital Rights Protection (DRM), and Streamed Video Storage and On-LineVideo Sharing Platform and Service having DRM Protection, employingBlockchain, and providing a Video Storage Platform.

Any of the embodiments herein may include wherein the invention includesa Real Time messaging App for for mobile platforms and desktop computers

Any of the embodiments herein may include an invention that provides amethod, comprising: (i) Sending an SMS invite message in JSON format, ina WebRTC chat application on a first communication device, to atelephone number of a second communication device, the SMS inviteproviding an IP address of the first communication device, (ii) Sendingan SMS reply in JSON format, in the WebRTC chat application on thesecond communication device, to a telephone number of the firstcommunication device, the SMS reply notifying acceptance of the SMSinvite and providing an IP address of the second communication device,(iii) Sending, in the WebRTC chat application on the first communicationdevice, an invite to a chat session to the IP address of the secondcommunication device through a WebRTC browser extension to a WebRTCsignaling server operatively connected to a Private Blockchain network;and (iv) Establishing an encrypted WebRTC peer-to-peer connectionbetween the WebRTC browser of the first communication device and asecond WebRTC browser of the second communication device in response toan acceptance by the second communication device of the invite sent bythe first communication device.

Any of the embodiments herein may include wherein the WebRTC chatapplication comprises video chat and voice chat.

Any of the embodiments herein may include wherein the WebRTC chatapplication uses a distributed hash table wherein a Cloud Server storesthe telephone number of the second communication device as a key mappedto a value that is the IP address of the second communication device.

Any of the embodiments herein may include wherein the method comprisingsaving a chat session comprising the video chat and the voice chat, inan encrypted communication between the first communication device and aCloud Server in a network connected to the first communication device,wherein the video chat and voice chat are stored by theCloud Server inthe network connected to the first communication device, the networkusing a distributed hash table, and wherein the telephone number of thefirst communication device is a key mapped to a second value that is thechat session.

Any of the preferred embodiments disclosed herein may employ a securereal-time communication system comprising (i) a Browser-to-Browser,Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Communications Network and Platform based on WebRTC,(ii) a Distributed Trust Platform, (iii) a PrivatePermissioned_Blockchain, (iv) a Digital Rights Protection (DRM)component, (v) a Streamed Video Storage and On-Line Video SharingPlatform and Service, and (vi) a Real Time messaging App for mobileplatforms and desktop computers, integrated to provide secure, easy touse video and audio messaging and storage service for consumers andbusinesses.

Any of the preferred embodiments disclosed herein include where theBrowser-to-Browser, Peer-to-Peer (P2P) Communications Network andPlatform based on WebRTC may employ JavaScript API's, WebRTC Protocols,WebRTC Network Servers, and WebRTC Security Features.

Any of the preferred embodiments disclosed herein include where theDistributed Trust Platform may employ AES 256 Galois/Counter Mode(AES-GCM), Elliptic-curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDH), Homomorphic Encryption,Insertable Media Streams, a Key Management System, Asymmetric Keys, aHardware Security Module (HSM), and a Digital Signature.

Any of the preferred embodiments disclosed herein include where thePrivate Permissioned_Blockchain may include Distributed LedgerTechnology (DLT), Group Node Coupling and Distributed Identities,Distributed Hash Tables—Cryptographic Hashing, Public Key Cryptography,and Merkle Trees.

Any of the preferred embodiments disclosed herein include where theinvention employs Digital Rights Protection (DRM), and Streamed VideoStorage and On-Line Video Sharing Platform and Service having DRMProtection, employing Blockchain, and providing a Video StoragePlatform.

Any of the preferred embodiments disclosed herein include where theinvention includes a Real Time messaging App for for mobile platformsand desktop computers.

In another preferred embodiment, the invention includes a method,comprising:

STEP 1. Establishing an encrypted connection between a firstcommunication device and a second communication device using a CloudServer, using a DRM-WebRTC application;

STEP 2. Sharing an HTML link to a DRM-restricted electronic objectbetween the first communication device and the second mobilecommunication device, said HTML link to the DRM-restricted electronicobject saved on the Cloud Server, said DRM-restricted electronic objecthaving DRM permissions assigned by the DRM-WebRTC application and storedon the first communication device; and

STEP 3. Accessing the DRM-restricted electronic object using the HTMLlink using a browser of the second communication device and renderingthe DRM-restricted electronic object on the Cloud Server, wherein saidaccessing is encrypted in transit.

Any of the preferred embodiment disclosed herein include a DRM-WebRTCsystem, comprising:

a DRM-WebRTC chat application of a first communication device havingprogram instructions saved to memory and executable on a processor toassign a DRM permission to an electronic object stored on the firstcommunication device, and to encrypt an electronic signal between theDRM-WebRTC chat application and a Cloud Server in operative associationwith the DRM-WebRTC chat application;

said first communication device connected by a peer-to-peer connectionto a second communication device using a WebRTC platform established bythe DRM-WebRTC chat application for transmitting and receiving areal-time duplex media stream, said real-time duplex media streamencrypted in transit from the first communication device to the secondcommunication device, said real-time duplex media stream selected fromthe group consisting of a video chat, an audio chat, and a datatransfer;

said first communication device in encrypted communication with theCloud Server using the DRM-WebRTC chat application having programinstructions saved to memory and executable on the processor to transmitand receive the electronic object with the Cloud Server, said DRMpermission stored on the first communication device;

said Cloud Server having program instructions saved to cloud memory andexecutable on a cloud processor to receive and store the electronicobject sent from the first communication device, and to render, by aCloud Server rendering module, an HTML file of the electronic object,the HTML file stored in the cloud memory and having a URL linkassociated therewith, and said Cloud Server having program instructionsto enforce the DRM permission of the electronic object,

said Cloud Server in encrypted communication with the secondcommunication device, said second communication device having theDRM-WebRTC chat application saved to memory and executable on aprocessor of the second communication device, the DRM-WebRTC chatapplication having a browser associated therewith to access, using theURL link, the HTML file of the electronic object saved on the CloudServer, and to enforce the DRM permission of the electronic object usinga DRM enforcement module of the DRM-WebRTC chat application, wherein theelectronic object is rendered on the Cloud Server;

said DRM enforcement module configured to send an enforcement command,encrypted in transit, through the Cloud Server to the secondcommunication device when a DRM permission violation is detected, saidDRM enforcement module revoking the encryption key that encrypted theelectronic signal between the DRM-WebRTC chat application and the webbrowser, wherein the electronic signal is between a CODEC in the browserand a playback component or module for a speaker or display of thesecond communication device.

Any of the preferred embodiments of the DRM-WebRTC system disclosedherein include where the DRM permission is selected from the groupconsisting of: record, not record, store, screen share, revoke, expire,offline view, blacklist, copy, forward, screen capture, rightsviolation, and cancel/disappear.

Any of the preferred embodiments of the DRM-WebRTC system disclosedherein include where the electronic object is stored on the Cloud Serverusing distributed storage.

Any of the preferred embodiments of the DRM-WebRTC system disclosedherein include where the DRM-WebRTC chat application comprises a secretchat module that disables saving the real-time duplex media stream tothe first and second communication devices.

Any of the preferred embodiments of the DRM-WebRTC system disclosedherein include where the WebRTC platform comprises a Private Blockchainmodule in communication with a WebRTC network server to provide useridentity, authentication, a digital hash, Group Node Coupling,personally-identifiable information (PII) security, content linking,content searching, and content addressing.

Any of the preferred embodiments of the DRM-WebRTC system disclosedherein include where the WebRTC platform comprises a hardware securitymodule in communication with a WebRTC network server to provide AES 256GCU encryption, and ECDH Diffie-Hellman encryption for audio and videostreams.

Any of the preferred embodiments of the DRM-WebRTC system disclosedherein include where wherein the WebRTC platform comprises a keymanagement module in communication with the WebRTC-Gateway Server andthe Signaling Server to provide homomorphic encryption of acommunication between the WebRTC-gateway Server and the SignalingServer, said homomorphic encryption allowing the Signaling Server toextract the private IP address without decrypting the JSON SMS message.

Any of the preferred embodiments of the DRM-WebRTC system disclosedherein include where the WebRTC chat application has an insertablestreams module to provide end-to-end encryption for a middlebox deviceand for Selective Forwarding Units (SFUs) for media routing in avideoconference application where insertable streams iterate on framesand not RTP packets to transform an encoded frame to an asynchronousinsertable stream to support end-to-end encryption.

Any of the preferred embodiments of the DRM-WebRTC system disclosedherein include where the Cloud Server comprises a CDN server.

Any of the preferred embodiments of the DRM-WebRTC system disclosedherein include where the first communication device is selected from amobile communication device, a desktop computer communication device,and a tablet communication device.

Terminology

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to limit the full scope of theclaims. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific termsused herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one ofordinary skill in the art. Nothing in this disclosure is to be construedas an admission that the embodiments described in this disclosure arenot entitled to antedate such disclosure by virtue of prior invention.

As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended toinclude the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicatesotherwise. With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/orsingular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate fromthe plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as isappropriate to the context and/or application. The varioussingular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sakeof clarity.

In general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims(e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as “open”terms (e.g., the term “including” should be interpreted as “includingbut not limited to,” the term “having” should be interpreted as “havingat least,” etc.). Similarly, the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,”when used in this specification, specify the presence of statedfeatures, integers (or fractions thereof), steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, integers (or fractions thereof), steps,operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used in thisdocument, the term “comprising” means “including, but not limited to.”

As used herein the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations ofone or more of the associated listed items. It should be understood thatvirtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or morealternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings,should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including oneof the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, thephrase “A or B” will be understood to include the possibilities of “A”or “B” or “A and B.”

All ranges disclosed herein also encompass any and all possiblesubranges and combinations of subranges thereof unless expressly statedotherwise. Any listed range should be recognized as sufficientlydescribing and enabling the same range being broken down into at leastequal subparts unless expressly stated otherwise. As will be understoodby one skilled in the art, a range includes each individual member.

The embodiments herein, and/or the various features or advantageousdetails thereof, are explained more fully with reference to thenon-limiting embodiments that are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings and detailed in the following description. Descriptions ofwell-known components and processing techniques are omitted so as to notunnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. The examples used hereinare intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which theembodiments herein may be practiced and to further enable those of skillin the art to practice the embodiments herein. Accordingly, the examplesshould not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will bethorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the inventiveconcepts to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to likeelements throughout.

Description of WebRTC

The term “WebRTC” as used herein refers to a free, open source platformwhich facilitates browser-based P2P communications (voice and video) onAndroid, IOS and PC platforms. WebRTC is supported by most browsertechnologies including: Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Opera and MSEdge.WebRTC supports video, voice and generic data to be sent between (andamong) peers allowing developers to build voice and video-communicationssolutions and services. The technologies behind WebRTC are implementedas an open web standard and available as regular JavaScript API's in allmajor browsers. For native clients, like Android and IOS applications, alibrary is available that provides the same functionality.

JavaScript API's

WebRTC consists of three main JavaScript objects: the RTC PeerConnection Object, the Mainstream API, and the RTC Data Channel API.

The term “RTC Peer Connection Object” as used herein refers to an objectthat is the main entry point to the WebRTC API. It helps connect topeers, initialize connections and attach media streams, as shown in theattached diagram. The RTC Peer Connection API is the core of thepeer-to-peer connection between each of the communicating browsers.

The term “Mainstream API” as used herein refers to an object designed toprovide easy access to media streams (video and audio) from cameras,microphones and audio and video codecs on mobile devices and PC's.

The term “RTC Data Channel API” as used herein refers to an objectdesigned to transfer arbitrary data including data messages in additionto audio and video streams

WebRTC Protocols

There are three main protocols for WebRTC: DTLS, SRTP, and SIP.

The term “Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS)” as used hereinrefers to a WebRTC protocol that adds encryption and messageauthentication. DTLS is a communications protocol that provides securityfor datagram-based applications, specifically voice and video byallowing them to communicate based on a stream oriented transport layersecurity (TLS) protocol, and is intended to provide similar securityguarantees. DTLS uses User Datagram Protocol (UDP) streaming protocol toestablish low latency and loss toleration communications betweenapplications on the Internet, such as WebRTC based P2P connection.

The term “Secure Real-Time Transport Protocol (SRTP)” as used hereinrefers to a WebRTC protocol that is a profile for Real-Time TransportProtocol (RTP) intended to provide encryption, message authenticationand replay attack protection to the RTP data in both unicast andmulticast video applications.

The term “Session Initiation Protocol (SIP)” as used herein refers to aWebRTC protocol that is a signaling protocol used for initiating,maintaining and terminating real-time voice, video and messagingsessions. SIP is widely used for signaling and controlling multimediacommunications sessions over Internet telephone for voice and videocalls, in private IP telephone systems and in instant messaging over IP.

The term “Session Description Protocol (SDP)” refers to a format fordescribing multimedia communications sessions for the purpose of sessionannouncement and session invitation to support streaming mediaapplications such as voice (VoIP) and video conferencing.

The term “WebRTC Network servers” refers to remote servers thatfacilitate the WebRTC connection.

The term “Signaling Server” refers to a WebRTC server used to establisha web socket connection between peer-to-peer users using public andprivate IP address translation.

The term “Interactive Connectivity Establishment (ICE)” refers to aWebRTC server used to discover which IP addresses can connect to eachother and the method used to make that connection through a typicalNetwork Address Translation (NAT) servers called STUN servers and TURNservers.

The term “STUN server” refers to a WebRTC server used as primaryconnection set up server.

The term “TURN server” refers to a WebRTC server that is a secondaryconnection set-up server when the STUN server is unreachable.

The term “Selective Forward Units (SFU's)” refers to a type of videorouting device used for receiving multiple media streams and thenforwarding these media streams to multiple users in a video conferencingsession.

The term “module” refers to a separate unit of hardware or software orboth that has a specific task or function within a larger hardware,software, or electronic system. The term “component” may be synonymouswithin context. The term module may also include programmableelectronics that include both hardware and software or firmwareprogramming.

The term “software module” refers to a separate unit of softwareprogramming code that has a specific task or function within a largersoftware system. A software module may handle one step in a process ormay handle a series of related steps required for completing a task orfunction.

The term “hardware module” refers to a separate unit of hardware thathas a specific task or function within a larger electronic system and isusually programmed or programmable by software or firmware or by a userestablishing specific settings to achieve a specific task or function.

WebRTC Security Issues

There are a number of ways that a browser based P2P communicationsapplication such as WebRTC may impose serious security risks, especiallythe interception of unencrypted data or media streams duringtransmission or when decrypted at middlebox server points in a P2Pconfiguration including signaling server, ICE servers (Stun server andTurn servers) and with Selective Forwarding Units (SFU's). The mainsecurity issue is with a man-in-the-middle (MITM) cyber attack and theftof private IP addresses and unencrypted data and streamed video sessionswhile traversing middlebox network servers. This can occur betweenbrowser-to-browser or browser-to-server communications witheavesdropping third parties able to see all sent data including IPaddresses, voice conversations, and video streams. TLS is the de-factostandard for Web encryption using HTTPS. But as discussed earlier,WebRTC uses DTLS with less than reliable Datagram transport such as UDPand with the implementation of DTLS to generate encryption keys for SRTPmedia sessions, where normal protections from TLS encryption are notavailable.

Signaling Server

WebRTC uses a signaling server network to establish a websocketconnection between peer-to-peer users. A form of discovery and mediaformat negotiation must take place in order for the two devices (i.e. 2Android or IOS devices) on different networks to locate one another.This process is called signaling and involves both devices connecting tothe mutually agreed-upon signaling server. A signaling servers functionis to serve as an intermediary to allow the two peers to find andestablish a connection while minimizing exposure of potentially privateinformation. However, in order to complete a secure connection between 2peers, the signaling server decrypts the senders private IP address andexchanges it with a public IP address to route the audio or video callto the receiver. As a result, both the sender and receivers private IPaddress is exposed (unencrypted) and is subject to a man-in-the-middle(MITM) attack whereby the private IP information and other PIIinformation of both users is now compromised.

Peer Connections using ICE—Protocol—Stun & Turn Servers

ICE (Interactive Connectivity Establishment) is used to discover whichIP addresses can connect to each other and the method used to make thatconnection through a typical NAT (Network Address Translation) which isa method of remapping an IP address space into another by modifyingnetwork address information in the IP header of packets while they arein transit across a traffic routing device. ICE uses both Stun and Turnservers to resolve the public IP address of a device running behind aNAT and to solve problems such as one-way audio during a phone call orstreamed video between 2 or more peers. Stun messages are usually sentin User Datagram Protocol (UDP) packets. Since UDP does not providereliable transport guarantees, reliability is achieved byapplication-controlled retransmissions of the Stun request. Since WebRTCuses DTLS versus TLS, the connection with a Stun server may or may notbe always encrypted. Once a session between peer A and peer B, for P2Pcommunications, Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) and SessionDescription Protocol (SDP) are used. Since the Stun isn't alwaysencrypted, it is easy for a MITM attack to be executed thus obtain theusers private IP addresses and the personal identifiable info. Thesessions between both peers will be end-to-end encrypted regardless ofyour secured/unsecured connection with Stun. This P2PICE/STUN/TURN—Audio and streamed audio connection process is widely usedand accepted as a major security risk with WebRTC browser based P2Pcommunications.

Selective Forwarding Unit (SFU)

WebRTC has settled on the SFU as the preferred method of extendingWebRTC to multiparty conferencing including simulcast and multicast.SFU's enable the deployment of P2P streamed video in efficient andscalable hub and spoke technologies with low latency and high qualityvideos. In the SFU architecture, every participant (peer) sends theirmedia stream to a centralized server (SFU) and receives streams for allother participants via the SFU. The SFU does not need to decode andre-encode received streams, but simply acts as a forwarder of streamsbetween call participants. The main advantage of the SFU architecture isthe ability to work with asymmetric bandwidth or (higher downlinkbandwidth than uplink bandwidth), which makes it suitable for mobilecommunications. The problem with SFU is that they do not support E2Emedia encryption, as the media server terminates the encryption once itreceives the media stream and has direct access to it. This represents aserious blocker for the usage of off-the-shelf SFU's for WebRTCapplications.

Man-in-the-middle (MITM) Middlebox Security Concerns

WebRTC is encrypted by design, using DTLS to exchange encryption keys(and encrypt data channel messages) and SRTP to exchange real-time audioand video streams. As such, each peer connection established between twopeers is secure (the P2P one-to-one scenario). The moment you add aserver to the mix, including a signaling server, ICE servers (Stun andTurn servers) and a Selective Forwarding Unit (SFU), media is notpeer-to-peer anymore; you are sending media to a server, and the serversends the media on to other peers. So it's the peers in the mediaconversation that change—that is if a server is handling the media,WebRTC requires that peer connections connect directly to the server,not the other peer. This means that, in the simple 1-1 peer to peervideo/audio call case, two separate and independent peer connections areestablished: Connection between the caller and server; and Connectionbetween the sender/caller and receiver/callee.

As such, both connections are secure, but only up to or from the serversince the server terminates the DTLS connectivity and as a result theserver has access to the unencrypted media and any other PIIinformation, including private IP addresses.

Distributed Trust Platform

For video streaming, video conferencing and audio communication over abrowser based (WebRTC) P2P network, it is imperative to augment certaindeficiencies with Datagram Transport Layer Security (DTLS) and Real-TimeTransport Protocol (Secure RTP) to provide strong end-to-end securityguarantees. This section defines and explains a Distributed TrustPlatform that consists of: AES 256 Galois/Counter Mode (GCM) encryption,Elliptic-Curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDH) encryption, Homomorphic encryption,Insertable Media Streams, Key Management System for Encryption, HardwareSecurity Module (HSM), Blockchain-Distributed Hash (DHT), and DigitalSignatures/Authentication.

AES 256 GCM

AES with Galois/Counter Mode (AES-GCM)—(is a mode of operation forsymmetric key cryptography block ciphers) provides both authenticatedencryption and the ability to check the integrity and authentication ofadditional authenticated data (AAD) that is sent in the clear. These arefour inputs for authenticated encryption: the secret key, initializationvector (called nonce), the plaintext and optional additionalauthentication data (AAD). The nonce and AAD are passed in the clear.These are two outputs; the ciphertext, which is exactly the same lengthas the plaintext, and an authentication tag (the “tag”). The tag issometimes called the Message Authentication Code (MAC) or integritycheck value (ICV).

ECDH

Elliptic-curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDH) is a key agreement protocol thatallows two parties, each having an elliptic-curve public-private keypair, to establish a shared secret over an insecure channel. This sharedsecret may be directly used as a key, or to derive another key. The keyor the derived key, can then be used to encrypt subsequentcommunications using a symmetric-key cipher. It is a variant of thestandard Diffie-Hellman protocol using elliptic-curve cryptography(ECC). ECC is a public-key cryptography based on the algebraic structureof elliptical curves over finite fields. Elliptical curves can be usedfor encryption by combining the key agreement (key exchange system) witha symmetric encryption scheme.

Homomorphic Encryption

Homomorphic encryption solves a vulnerability inherent in all otherapproaches to doctor protection.

“Homomorphic encryption (HE) is a form of encryption allowing one toperform calculations on encrypted data without decrypting it first. Theresult of the computation is in an encrypted form, when decrypted theoutput is the same as if the operations had been performed on theunencrypted data.”

“In a nutshell, homomorphic encryption is a method of encryption thatallows any data to remain encrypted while it is being processed andmanipulated. It enables a third party (such as a video streamingservice) to apply functions on encrypted data without needing to revealthe values of the data. A homomorphic cryptosystem is like other formsof public encryption in that it uses a public key to encrypt data andallows only the individual with the matching private key to access itsunencrypted data (though there are also examples of symmetric keyhomomorphic encryption as well). However, what sets it apart from otherforms of encryption is that it uses an algebraic system to allow you orothers to perform a variety of computations (or operations) on theencrypted data.”

Homomorphic encryption is a form of encryption with an additionalevaluation capability for computing over encrypted data without accessto the secret key to decrypt the encrypted data. The result of such acomputation remains encrypted.

Applying HE to WebRTC signaling which requires both the caller andcallee to upload their private IP address to the signaling server sothat a media session (video streaming) can be routed and traversed overthe public IP network using a public IP address. In this way both thecaller and callee's private IP addresses are never decrypted or exposedto MITM attack.

“There are two main types of homomorphic encryption. The primarydifference between them boils down to the types and frequency ofmathematical operations that can be performed on their ciphertext. Typesof homomorphic encryption include: Partially Homomorphic Encryption andFully Homomorphic Encryption.

“Partially homomorphic encryption (PHE) helps sensitive data remainconfidential by only allowing select mathematical functions to beperformed on encrypted values. This means that one operation can beperformed an unlimited number of times on the ciphertext. Partialhomomorphic encryption (with regard to multiplicative operations) is thefoundation for RSA encryption, which is commonly used in establishingsecure connections through SSL/TLS.” A partial HE scheme can alsosupport limited operations such as addition and multiplication up to acertain complexity because most complex functions typically requiresignificant computing capability and computation time.

Insertable Media Streams

WebRTC mandates encryption using DTLS-SRTP works by using a DTLShandshake to derive keys for encrypting the media payload of the RTPpackets. It is authenticated by comparing fingerprints in the SDP(session description Protocol) that are exchanged via the signalingserver with the fingerprints of the self-signed certificates used in thehandshake. This is often called E2E encryption since the negotiated keysdo not leave the local device (signaling server) and the browser doesnot have access to them. However, without authentication it is stillvulnerable to MITM attacks focusing on private IP address theft.

Another unsecure media server are the SFU's. FSU's are packet routersthat forward a single or small set of media streams from one user tomany users (typically up to 50 users). In terms of encryption, DTLS-SRTPnegotiation happens between each peer endpoint and the SFU. This meansthat the SFU has access to the unencrypted payload and can listen in.This is necessary for features like server-side recording. On thesecurity side, it means you need to trust the entity running the SFUand/or the client code (vodeo app) to keep the stream private. Zerotrust is always the best policy.

Unlike a VoIP Multipoint Control Unit (MCU) which decodes and mixesmedia, a SFU only routes packets. It ignores the media content (exceptheader information and whether a frame is a keyframe). So a SFU is notrequired to decode and decrypt the media stream data.

So what is required and proposed here is to implement a “frameencryption” approach built on a JavaScript API to solve thisproblem—which is referred to here as Insertable Media Streams. Thisapproach works as follows:

Opens two connections

Applies the encryption on both connections based on a simple XOR cipher,an additive cipher (an encryption algorithm) that operates as follows:

A⊕O=A

A⊕A=A

(A⊕B)⊕C=A⊕(B⊕C)

(B⊕A)⊕A=B⊕O=B

where ⊕ denotes the exclusive disjunction (XOR) operation and is appliedto the content which contains the encryption key.

Only decryption on one of them.

The transform function is then called for every video frame. Thisincludes an encoded frame object and a controller object. The controllerobject provides a way to pass the modified frame to the next step. Theframe header is not required to be encrypted.

The insertable media stream API operates between the encoder/decoder andthe packetizer that splits the frames into RTP packets. In summary, thisis a sophisticated APO for inserting frame encryption which in the caseof insertable streams needs to be asynchronous.

Key Management System (KMS)

Encryption key management is administering the full lifecycle ofcryptographic keys. This includes: generating, using, storing,archiving, and deleting of keys. Protection of the encryption keysincludes limiting access to the keys physically, logically, and throughuser/role access.

There is an entire physical and digital cryptosystem that must beaccounted for as well as each key's full lifecycle. Therefore, a robustencryption key management system and policies includes: Key lifecycle:key generation, pre-activation, activation, expiration, post-activation,escrow, and destruction. Physical access to the key server(s), Logicalaccess to the key server(s), and User/Role access to the encryption keysare important.

Asymmetric Keys: Data-in-Motion.

Asymmetric keys are a pair of keys for the encryption and decryption ofthe data. Both keys are related to each other and created at the sametime. They are referred to as a public and a private key:

Public Key: this key is primarily used to encrypt the data and can befreely given as it will be used to encrypt data, not decrypt it.

Private Key: this key is used to decrypt the data that it's counterpart,the public key, has encrypted. This key must be safeguarded as it is theonly key that can decrypt the encrypted data.

Asymmetric keys are primarily used to secure data-in-motion. An examplemight be a streamed video where an AES symmetric session key is used toencrypt the data and a public key is used to encrypt the session key.Once the encrypted data is received, the private key is used to decryptthe session key so that it can be used to decrypt the data.

Asymmetric Key System Flow Process

The Sender and Recipient verify each other's certificates. The sendersends a certificate to the recipient for verification. The recipientthen checks the certificate against their Certificate Authority (CA) oran external Validation Authority (VA) for authentication. Once thesender's certificate has been verified, the recipient then sends theircertificate to the sender for authentication and acceptance. Once thesender and recipient have mutual acceptance. The sender requests therecipient's public key. The recipient sends their public key to thesender. The sender creates an ephemeral symmetric key and encrypts thefile to be sent. (an ephemeral symmetric key is a symmetric encryptionkey used only for one session.) The sender encrypts the symmetric keywith the public key. The sender then sends the encrypted data with theencrypted symmetric key. The recipient receives the packet and decryptsthe symmetric key with the private key. The recipient decrypts the datawith the symmetric key.

Hardware security module (HSM) is a physical computing device thatsafeguards and manages digital keys, performs encryption and decryptionfunctions for digital signatures, strong authentication and othercryptographic functions. These modules traditionally come in the form ofa plug-in card or an external device that attaches directly to acomputer or network server. A hardware security module contains one ormore secure cryptoprocessor chips.

Digital signature is a mathematical scheme for verifying theauthenticity of digital messages or documents. A valid digitalsignature, where the prerequisites are satisfied, gives a recipient verystrong reason to believe that the message was created by a known sender(authentication), and that the message was not altered in transit(integrity).

Elliptical Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) offers a variant ofthe Digital Signature Algorithm (DSA) which uses elliptic curvecryptography.

Cryptographic splitting, also known as cryptographic bit splitting orcryptographic data splitting, is a technique for securing data over acomputer network. The technique involves encrypting data, splitting theencrypted data into smaller data units, distributing those smaller unitsto different storage locations, and then further encrypting the data atits new location.

Encrypted Media Extensions (EME)

EME is a W3C specification for providing a communication channel betweenweb browsers and a Content Decryption Module (CDM) software whichimplements Digital Rights Management (DRM). This allows the use of HTML5video to play back DRM-wrapped content such as streaming video withoutthe use of 3rd party media plugins to the browser including Adobe Flashor MS Silverlight. The use of a third party encryption key managementsystem is recommended.

EME is based on the HTML5 Media Source Extensions (MSE) specificationwhich enables adaptive but rate streaming in HTML5 using MPEG-DASHprotected content. (Dash-Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP). Thetransport protocol that MPEG-DASH uses is TCP.

As of 2016, EME has been implemented in Google Chrome, IE, Safari,Firefox and MSEdge browsers.

Content Decryption Module

The invention includes a stack implementation of using the APO for theContent Decryption Module. The CDM is the client component that providesdecryption for one or more encryption key systems including the keymanagement systems proposed in the SRTCS Distributed Trust Platformwhich supports AES 256 GCM encryption, Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman(ECDH) encryption and Homomorphic encryption.

Encrypted Media Extension (EME)

The invention provides an EME for providing a communication channelbetween web browsers and a Content Decryption Module (CDM).

Private Blockchain

The invention provides a Private Blockchain with Distributed HashTables, Group Node coupling, Distributed (encrypted) Identity andDigital Rights (DRM).

As used herein, the Private Blockchain is an invitation-only networkgoverned and controlled by a single (or group) entity. Entrants to theblockchain network require permission to join, read, write andparticipate in the blockchain. There are different levels of access, andthe information is encrypted to protect the commercial servicesconfidentiality. The SRTCS system (Vodeo) described in the invention hasimplemented a permission-based blockchain (Private Blockchain) thatdeploys an access control layer to govern who has access to the networkand users (subscribers) on the Private Blockchain network are vetted andcontrolled by the network rules.

The SRTCS blockchain contains a growing list of records (transactions)referred to as blocks that are linked using cryptography (encryption).Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous blocks (atimestamp) and transaction data (metadata), represented as a Merkletree.

Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT)

The SRTC invention deploys Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) forrecording “transactions” or video and audio chats in which thetransactions and their details are recorded in multiple places (multiplenodes) at the same time. Distributed ledgers have no central data storeor administrative functionality which is contrasted with widely usedcloud databases such as SQL server. Ledgers are essentially a permanentrecord of transactions and data. Blockchain, which bundles transactionsinto blocks that are chained together (“connected”). DLT also has thepotential to speed transactions since they remove the need for a centralauthority. Blockchain technology makes use of cryptography fortransactions, security and privacy-preserving protocols. Blockchaincryptography includes public-key cryptography, distributed hashing andMerkle trees.

SRTCS Private Blockchain Architecture

This invention also describes a new method and implementation of aPrivate Blockchain which includes: Blockchain Group Node Coupling,Distributed Hash Tables, Distributed Identity and Directories(searching), Public Key Cryptography, Cryptographic Hashing, and MerkleTrees. Each of the above mentioned technologies are discussed below ingreater detail.

Blockchain with Distributed Identity Directory, Distributed Hash Tableswith Group Node Coupling)

The invention provides Group Node Coupling, Distributed Identities (DII)and Directories. SRTCS deploys blockchain to provide a record of eachusers PII (personal identifiable information) including a private IPaddress and to provide directory searching capability to find andconnect 2 or more users to a video/audio chat session. This process alsoincludes node addressing, node discovery and group node coupling.

A profile of each subscriber is created in the blockchain that containsall PII and historical metadata of video/audio chats made with othersubscribers (called “Buds”) in SRTCS. A node coupling profile of “Buds”is created which streamlines the blockchain discovery (searching)algorithms to quickly identify and retrieve addressing linkinginformation to achieve rapid connection between subscribers in thesystem.

WebRTC signaling server is used to connect 2 or more subscribers overthe P2P network. As discussed earlier, the signaling server translateseach users private IP address to a public IP address to effectuate aconnection over the ICE (Stun, Turn) server network. An encryptedWebsocket Connection is made between the users WebRTC based browser andthe signaling server in an encrypted (hop-to-hop???) scenario. SRTCSuniquely deploys homomorphic encryption to extract the private IPaddresses of each subscriber without decrypting the private IP addresspayload in the signaling server. This protects the users from anypotential MITM private IP address impersonation and theft and alsoprovides a true end-to-end encryption implementation without the need todecrypt the users private IP address at the signaling server.

Private Blockchain with Distributed Hash Tables & Group Node Coupling)

The invention provides Public-Key Cryptography. An important feature ofthe SRTCS system is the implementation of public key cryptography withBlockchain. Public-key cryptography (also called asymmetriccryptography) is a cryptographic system that uses a pair of keys—apublic key and a private key. The public key may be widely distributed,but the private key is meant to be known only by its owner. Keys arealways created in a pair—every public key must have a correspondingprivate key.

Public-key cryptography is most often used for encrypting messagesbetween two people or two computers in a secure way. Anyone can usesomeone's public key to encrypt a message, but once encrypted, the onlyway to decrypt that message is by using the corresponding private key.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a flowchart is provided illustrating anon-limiting preferred embodiment of the Secure RTC Service systemarchitecture and streamed video storage and sharing platform. FIG. 1shows how a VODEO subscriber app can be installed on a mobile phone ordesktop computer for video chat and streamed video, and will have alocal encryption key. The VODEO app on the mobile or desktop user deviceis in communication with a Cloud Storage and Sharing Platform having anupload/download module (programming, hardware, and/or firmware), as wellas a Digital Rights (DRM) protection module, a Distributed TrustPlatform module (ELEE), a Blockchain-Distributed Hash Table (BC-DHT)module, a Network/Signaling Server, and a WebRTC module and/or server.

In operation, the sender subscriber app can establish a “push-button”WebRTC connection to a receiver subscriber app by sending a request orinvite containing an identifier, such as a telephone number from thecontact list collected in the subscriber app and stored in the CloudPlatform using the Blockchain-Distributed Hash Table, along with thesender's IP address and discovery invitation text, to the WebRTCmodule/server of the Cloud Platform. The WebRTC module/server uses anestablished messaging protocol such as SMS, email, etc. to contact thereceiver's subscriber app. The receiver can then read the discoveryinvitation and accept (or decline) the invite, which sends thereceiver's IP address along with an acceptance message, if desired, inreply to the WebRTC module/server. The WebRTC module/server thenestablishes a peer-to-peer connection between the sender subscriber appand the receiver subscriber app.

FIG. 1 also shows that, in addition to facilitating the WebRTC discoveryand peer-to-peer video/audio/data communication (“VODEO”), the platformprovides the subscribers with the ability to securely upload/downloadand share video/audio/data (media/content), securely save the contentusing distributed cloud storage, apply DRM permissions to the content,encrypt the content end-to-end, and provide scalable cloud-based contentaddressing, linking, and discovery.

FIG. 1 shows that the encryption key for DRM permissions can be locallystored in connection with a subscriber app and associated playbackCODECs. This arrangement provides that a DRM violation by a subscriberresults in a revocation of the encryption key which is tied to the CODECfunction. Thus, the content is unavailable and cannot be played on theDRM violators device. DRM permissions may include functions selectedfrom: record, store, screen share, expire, offline view, copy, forward,and screen capture. DRm enforcement functions may include: revoke,blacklist, cancel access, disappear subscriber (from contact list),disappear content, and other rights violation responses.

FIG. 1 also shows that the WebRTC module/server includes the Signalingserver architecture as a backup to assist in the P2P discovery andconnection. The use of a STUN server, and optionally a TURN server ifneeded, allows the connection by IP address described by the WebRTCprotocol. A NAT server is also provided to assist in traversing hiddenIP addresses. An SFU server is provided to enhance the video streamingfunctionality.

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a video RTC messaging platform and how it works. A subscriber 1provides streamed video sharing to one or more subscribers 2 . . . N.Within the subscriber app, the video module provides video upload,rights management, encryption selection, and a selection of a video chatand/or a secret chat. The subscriber apps are connected to theCloud-based Video RTC Messaging Platform. A Blockchain module providescontent addressing, linking & discovery, along with decentralizedidentity and a decentralized directory and authentication. TheBlockchain module also provides distributed video storage usingDistributed Hash Table (DHT) technology. A Streamed Video Storage &Sharing module includes a Distributed Video storage server connected toCDN servers, and the CDN servers are governed by the Digital Rights Userrights by way of the CODEC-DRM governor integrated with the encryptionkey. A DRM module includes programming for Digital Rights Useenforcement of the streamed video and the integrated video CODECrendering. A Server Side Rendering module provides the rendering andtransmission of the video to the receiving subscribers.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Web RTC signaling with JSEP Javascript Session EstablishmentProtocol showing a webRTC process as provided herein from a caller'svideo app through webRTC servers to a “callee” (receiver of a call)video app. The subscriber (video) app uses a browser functionality toconnect to the WebRTC server for establishing a session. JavaScript APIscan be integrated into the browser functionality to manage theconnection to the receiver (callee) device. The Signaling Serversfacilitate IP address discovery and the result is a subscriber appmediated peer-to-peer WebRTC connection for video streaming

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof Web RTC Network servers with STUN, TURN, and Signaling Servers, andshows a webRTC process as provided herein from a peer 1 browser to apeer 2 browser.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Web RTC Platform Network Diagram and shows a peer connectionbetween a video app caller and a video app callee, with signalingthrough an interactive connectivity establishment (ICE) cloud havingSTUN and/or TURN servers. FIG. 5 shows a video app caller initiating adiscovery request by sending a request through Signaling servers toestablish a WebRTC connection to a video app callee. The WebRTCmodule/server provides session management, peer connection, Signalingsession, voice encoding, video encoding, transport function, audiocapture and rendering, video capture and rendering, and network I/O.FIG. 5 also shows that the peer connection can use JavaScript API withan optional C++ addon.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a WebRTC Protocol Stack and shows a layer description of an RTC peerconnection with data channel, secure real-time transport protocol,stream control transmission protocol, datagram transport layer security,ICE network, UDP protocol, and network layer protocol (TCP/IP).

FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a WebRTC Signaling Flow Diagram and shows a handshake provisioningand Signaling diagram showing sequencing of each step to achieve ICEhole punching and exchange of media. FIG. 7 shows a process that startswith a Caller sending a HTTP GET Configurations communication to theSignaling Server with Web Server, and the Server send an OKcommunication to acknowledge. A Callee follows with a similar processstep. The Caller then prepares a communication to the Servers with a Getmedia permission, Create offer 9SDp), and Set local description, andthis is sent as a Send offer (SDP). The Send offer is then forwarded tothe Callee, and the Callee generates a Get media permissions, Get offer,Set remote description, Create answer (SDp), and Set local descriptionfile. This communication is returned to the Servers, and the Serversforward a Receive answer (SDP) to the Caller. The Caller then generatesa Get answer, Set remote description file and the ICE Hole Punching andExchange Media communications are provisioned.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a WebRTC Architecture and shows a system of components/modulesconnecting the web and the browser, including webRTC features, voiceengine functionality, audio, vido, network, and digital signalprocessing. The system of FIG. 8 includes: a Voice Engine, an iSACwideband and super wideband audio codec for VoIP and streaming audio, aniLBC narrowband speech codec for VoIP and streaming audio, Opus forconstant and variable bitrate encoding from 6 kbit/s to 510 kbit/s, aJitter Buffer, an Acoustic Echo Canceler (AEC), a Noise Reductioncomponent, a Video Engine, a low latency VP8 video codec configured(adapted) for RTC, a Dynamic Video Jitter Buffer, and an Imageenhancements component that removes video noise from the image captureby the webcam.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Web RTC Middlebox Security Issues and shows a DTLS peer encryptiondesigned for P2P connection between users with SFU, DTLS peer encryptionfails to encrypt multiple video streams. FIG. 9 shows the problems withexisting generic WebRTC Signaling server connections and the need for asecurity solution.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of Man-in-the-Middle(MITM) attacks on WebRTC peer communications with a signaling server andshows a handshake diagram showing Signaling to provision the webRTC peerconnection. FIG. 10 shows how a MITM attacker can compromise a signalchannel and break peer connections into two streams. FIG. 10 shows howDTLS does not detect MITM since the certificate in DTLS handshakematches the fingerprints in comparison Signaling. FIG. 10 shows theproblem with existing generic WebRTC Signaling server connections andthe need for a security solution.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Distributed Trust Platform and shows a blockchain and digitalrights integration into the secure WebRTC P2P connection. FIG. 11 showsa Blockchain module provides decentralized identity, digital hash, andauthentication. The Blockchain module also provides Group Node Coupling,PII security, and Content Linking and Content Addressing.

FIG. 11 shows a Digital Rights module providing enforcement of DRMrestrictions and options selected from record, store, revoke, expire,screen capture, share, secret, session level, and so forth. FIG. 11shows the Distributed Trust Platform also having a Hardware Securitymodule and Key Management system. The Hardware Security module mayinclude AES256 GCU encryption and ECDH Diffie-Hellman encryption foraudio and video streams. The Key Management system provides encryptionand can include homomorphic encryption, to protect the Network Server IPAddress Exchange. The Key management system can also include insertablestreams to protect against MITM attacks on the Signal/SFU servers andcommunications.

FIG. 11 shows the Distributed Trust platform in communication with theNetwork Servers (Signal, STUN, TURN, SFU). FIG. 11 shows a Caller VideoChat app having a WebRTC module connected to a browser functionality (orlocal browser) in communication with the Network Servers for discoveryand establishment of the P2P connection, with the DTLS and SRPT, to theCallee Video Chat app. FIG. 11 shows a non-limiting option of usingwebsocket Signaling between the Video Chat apps and the entire CloudPlatform.

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof an Insertable Media Streams for Media Conferencing with an SFU andshows steps from camera through network to a recipient viewing screenfor insertable media stream for media conferencing with an SFU. FIG. 12shows a camera attached to a Sender device having a Video Chat appsending a media stream to an encoder, the encoder converting to aninsertable stream, and then forwarding to an RTP packetizer, before SRPTencryption is added and it is forwarded to the Network. FIG. 12 showsthat arriving from the Network, the stream is STRP decrypted, sent to anRTP depacketizer to obtain an Insertable Stream, the insertable streamis decoded to a media stream and the media stream is consumed on adisplay.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof End-to-End encryption with webRTC insertable stream in a middle boxdevice in a video stream. FIG. 13 shows a camera attached to a Senderdevice having a Video Chat app sending a media stream to an encoder, theencoder converting to an insertable stream, and then forwarding to anRTP packetizer, before DTLS encryption is added and it is forwarded tothe Network. FIG. 13 shows that arriving from the Network, the stream isDTLS decrypted, sent to an RTP depacketizer to obtain an InsertableStream, the insertable stream is decoded to a HTML media element, andthe HTML media element is consumed on a display that is similarlyconnected using a Video chat app via WebRTC.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Blockchain with Distributed Identity and Directory Distributed HashTables with Group Node Coupling and shows blockchain peers havingidentity function, a distributed ledger for group node coupling, adirectory, encryption, personal ID, hash tables, and digital rightspermissions. FIG. 14 shows Video Chat app users Bob, Dan, Jen, and Dom.Video Chat app user Bob sends a request for a Group Chat. As a User,Bob's contact list includes Dan, Jen, and Dom. Accordingly, when theWebRTC module contacts the Cloud Servers, a Blockchain Peers moduleprovides Group Node Coupling using a Distributed Ledger connected to akey-value pairing system in Distributed Hash Tables. The personalinformation for Bob, Dan, Jen, Dom is securely stored and accessedwithout being shared or exposed, but can nonetheless be used forconnecting the parties. Personal information can include a telephonenumber, an email, a physical address, a social security number, an IPaddress, a credit card, a birthdate, and/or banking or other third partyaccount information. The Blockchain Peers module manages distributedidentity, provides a crypto signature, and links the PPI to thesignature, in an encrypted process. The Blockchain Peers module alsomanages a distributed directory with a Namespace ID connected toMetadata Fingerprints, and Directory Names connected to a Fingerprintand an IP address, in an encrypted process. FIG. 14 also shows theintegration of the Digital Rights module with the Blockchain Peersmodule.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Private Blockchain with Distributed Hash Tables and Group Node andshows an example of blockchain peers having identity function, adistributed ledger for group node coupling, a directory, encryption,personal ID, hash tables, blockchain DHT, homomorphic encryption for aP2P video connection. FIG. 15 shows Caller Bob using the Video Chat appon a device having a specific IP address connecting to the (Network)Signaling Server using the WebRTC module with browser functionality. TheSignaling server accesses the Blockchain with DHT to match Bob's andSally's IP address using a hash key within a Distributed Hash Table. TheBlockchain Group Node Coupling module provides the distributed identityand distributed directory for node addressing and linking the user nameswith their IP addresses.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a DRM Functional Architecture. When Streamed Videos are created, theVideo System ensures that rights are validated, assigned and approved totheir owners. In the distribution and storage of the system, the contentand metadata are managed with the licenses and transactions. Aftercontent has been accessed and downloaded, the system enforces the rightsassociated with the content by providing proper permissions to access,use and modify the content. FIG. 16 shows that Content Managementincludes the use of a Repository and a Trading Platform for the Content,Metadata, Payment services, and Distribution.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof Distributed Video Storage with Blockchain and DRM and showsfunctional modules for DRM, blockchain, distributed video storage,digital rights protection, with WebRTC connected video apps in a P2Pnetwork. FIG. 17 shows an example of an Open Digital Rights Language(ODRL) module connected to a Blockchain module for Video Access Controlfor the authorization of user, video encoding, video transcoding, andvideo rendering. FIG. 17 also shows a Distributed Video Storage platformconnected to the Blockchain module having encryption, distributed videostorage modules, and digital content protection (DCP). The Blockchainmodule includes a Distributed Video Storage database and providescontent addressing, linkage, and discovery. The Blockchain module alsoprovides decentralized digital apps and distributed hash tables.

FIG. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a streamed video storage and video sharing platform accessed by aVODEO chat app over a P2P network. FIG. 18 shows how a VODEO subscriberapp, Subscriber 1 thru Subscriber N, can be installed on a mobile phoneor desktop computer for video chat and streamed video, and will have adigital rights selection module, video chat, and secret video chat. TheVODEO app on the mobile or desktop user device has a streaming videomodule (programming, hardware, and/or firmware), a digital rightsmodule, and a video link module and is in communication with aServer-Side Stream Video Rendering Cloud Platform with DRM & Blockchain.The Server-side Streamed Video Rendering Server is connected to a VideoServer Farm for storage and playback of videos, and has distributedstorage technology, encryption technology, video CODECs, and videodisplay technology.

In operation, the Video Server Farm receives original video, saves todistributed storage, utilizing CDN servers, includes a DRM enforcementmodule, and serves streamed video with server-side video CODECrendering.

FIG. 18 shows how a Distributed Trust Platform module (ELEE), and aBlockchain-Distributed Hash Table (BC-DHT) module are integrated intothe Server-side Streamed Video Rendering server.

In operation, the sender subscriber app can establish a “push-button”streaming video P2P connection to a receiver subscriber app by sending arequest or invite containing an identifier, such as a telephone numberfrom the contact list collected in the subscriber app and stored in theCloud Platform using the Blockchain-Distributed Hash Table, along withthe sender's IP address and discovery invitation text, to themodule/server of the Cloud Platform. The server uses an establishedmessaging protocol such as SMS, email, etc. to contact the receiver'ssubscriber app. The receiver can then read the discovery invitation andaccept (or decline) the invite, which sends the receiver's IP addressalong with an acceptance message, if desired, in reply to the server.The server then establishes a peer-to-peer connection between the sendersubscriber app and the receiver subscriber app.

FIG. 18 also shows that, in addition to facilitating the P2P discoveryand peer-to-peer video/audio/data communication (“VODEO”), the platformprovides the subscribers with the ability to securely upload/downloadand share video/audio/data (media/content), securely save the contentusing distributed cloud storage, apply DRM permissions to the content,encrypt the content end-to-end, and provide scalable cloud-based contentaddressing, linking, and discovery.

FIG. 18 shows that the encryption key for DRM permissions can be locallystored in connection with a subscriber app and associated playbackCODECs. This arrangement provides that a DRM violation by a subscriberresults in a revocation of the encryption key which is tied to the CODECfunction. Thus, the content is unavailable and cannot be played on theDRM violators device. DRM permissions may include functions selectedfrom: record, store, screen share, expire, offline view, copy, forward,and screen capture. DRm enforcement functions may include: revoke,blacklist, cancel access, disappear subscriber (from contact list),disappear content, and other rights violation responses.

FIG. 18 also shows that the server includes the P2P Signaling serverarchitecture to assist in the P2P discovery and connection. The use ofnetwork servers allows the connection by IP address described by the P2Pprotocol, including NAt traversal to assist in connection to hidden IPaddresses.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof Server Side Streamed Video Rendering with DRM and Blockchain in avideo sharing platform. FIG. 19 shows how multiple subscribers, eachwith a video app, where the app is connected to the video sharingplatform through the server-side streamed video rendering server withDRM and Blockchain, provides access using video links to stored videos.Each subscriber's video app includes the ability to administer andmanage the assigned DRM right or privilege associated with thesubscriber as set by the owner of the video. The video is served from adistributed trust platform having 256 AES GCM encryption, a hardwaresecurity modem, cryptographic security, including ECDC, and DiffieHellman Blockchain manages the distributed identity, distributeddirectory, and authentication. Distributed Storage manages the ContentAddressing, Content Linking, Content Discovery, and Content Processing.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof Streamed Video Sharing Flow from Storage Accessed by an SRTCS MobileApp and shows an example of a shared video video platform with “Mary's”videos in storage, blockchain addressing, link, and search functions,DRM security, distributed storage, popular content server, digitalrights protection, connecting two connected mobile apps.

FIG. 20 shows SRT 6S mobile app sending an authenticated video requestto a Cloud Server having a Private Blockchain for content addressing,linkage and searching. The delivery app accesses Mary's Video, e.g.video #6, from distributed storage and assembles segment playback usinga CDN Server. The DRM permissions are processed and a video link tovideo #6 is generated, which can be shared in an encryptedcommunication. The video #6 is then rendered at the server level,server-side rendering, and a streamed video is delivered for videoplayback.

FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof Digital Rights Protection (DRM) for Secure Video Chat and shows a DRMprotection layer interfacing with a WebRTC and Javascript API layer.

FIG. 21 shows a Caller connecting to a Callee by having the Caller Appuse websocket connection with DTLS/SRDP connect to the Network Services(Platform). In this embodiment the Network uses homomorphic encryptionfor communicating with the Apps and a Peer Connection and SessionManagement & Signaling Server establishes the peer connection betweenthe Caller and Callee. The Network Services are provided in this exampleusing a WebRTC protocol with a Javascript API. DRM protection is shownlinked to the connection (discovery) server(s) whereby the Caller hasengaged in video creation (capture/render), assignment of DRMpermissions, and where the video is stored and made available using aLicense Server. The License Server coordinates the cryptographic keys,rights (permissions), and identities. The peer connection that providesthe streamed video connects the Caller to the Callee and uses a serviceto provide video stream creation connected to cloud-video codecs forvideo stream capture and sharing.

FIG. 22 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a VODEO app workflow and shows three parallel streams showing a videochat, a secret chat or audio call, stream video storage and DRMS rightsprotection.

FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof streamed video sharing between two video apps of subscriber 1 andsubscriber 2, and with cloud-based server side streamed video renderingwith DRU. FIG. 23 shows blockchain managing the distributed identity,distributed searching, content addressing, content linking, and contentdiscovery. FIG. 23 also shows security provided by E2E encryption, anHSM module, 256 AES encryption, and distributed hash tables. FIG. 23also shows server-side streamed video rendering for the digital rightsuser (DRU). This allows Subscriber 1 to transmit a video link from acloud service to Subscriber 2 who can then access the streamed videowithout downloading the content and maintaining the requiredpermissions.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Secret Audio Call or Secret Video Chat Using a VODEO app and showsDRM protection with Open Digital Rights and connection using webRTCbetween a sender and receiver using a video app. FIG. 24 shows a Senderhaving a video app establishing a P2P connection using a WebRTCdiscovery and connection system to a Receiver for an audio call or videochat. A browser functionality can be within the mobile app or the mobileapp can integrate with the native browser or preferred browser installedon the device. The DRM protection module provides a selection menu toprovide various DRM options, including whether the content is a secretvideo chat, a secret audio call, a notification for violation, and acontent block of one or more. A media recorder module provides theability to toggle on or off the video CODEC for recording or the audioCODEC for recording. A setting in the app allows the user to selectwhether to block the media recorder or not.

FIG. 25 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof Streamed Video Sharing Violation and shows a DRM violation where aview-only video session is revoked in a platform having DRM protectionand Open Digital Rights. FIG. 25 shows how a DRM violation by asubscriber results in a revocation of the access link to the contentstored in the cloud. Thus, the content is unavailable and cannot beplayed on the DRM violators device.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Real Time Communication (RTC) Service for Secure Audio and Videoover a Browser-based P2P Connection and shows a platform having an RTCnetwork, a VPN, DR protection, blockchain with DHT, split-keyencryption, JavaScript APIs, and webRTC to establish and manage aPeer-to-Peer connection for audio, video, or data sharing between asender/caller and a receiver/callee. FIG. 26 shows an embodiment where aVPN is combined with DRM, Blockchain, DHT, and Split-key encryption in aCloud-based Security Server. The Cloud Security Server is integratedwith the WebRTC Discovery and Connection Server which manages theNetwork Signaling Servers, and the Session management and PeerConnection Server. In this embodiment, as in others, the device may bean Android mobile/telephone device, an Android tablet or computer, aniOS mobile/telephone device, a Mac OS tablet or computer, a PC device,or other Mobile or Tablet device. In a preferred embodiment, the DRM mayinclude an XrUL Rights Application.

FIG. 27 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Real Time Communication (RTC) Service for Audio, Video Conferencingover a Browser-based P2P Connection with VPN plus Intrusion Detection,DRM, Blockchain and E2E and shows a platform/system having an RTCnetwork, DR protection, blockchain with DHT, End-to-End (E2E)encryption, JavaScript APIs, and webRTC to establish and manage aPeer-to-Peer connection for audio, video, or data sharing between asender/caller and a receiver/callee.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Video Chat

Workflow Diagram. FIG. 28 shows the flowchart starting with a Senderinitiating a video chat on a App that is connected to a WebRTC GatewayServer having a Private Blockchain with DHT, an Interplanetary FileSystem (IPFS) Server (Cloud Storage Server) and a Security Module forpersonally identifiable information (P.I.I.). The sender identifies thereceiver on the sender device and pushes a button to peer connect to thereceiver for a video chat. The button push commences a process thatuploads to the WebRTC Gateway Server a request file or communicationcontaining the receiver telephone number, the sender telephone number,the sender's IP address, and an SMS video chat invite. The WebRTCGateway Server receives, processes, and forwards the request file to thereceiver. The receiver sends a response to the SMS invite, within theApp, or using an API within the App integrated with the native orinstalled messaging software. This response generates within the APP anupload from the receiver of the receiver IP address and port. The senderapp and the receiver app are peer-2-peer connected in accordance withWebRTC protocol, and a video chat connection is established.

FIG. 29 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a WebRTC Video Chat Flow with Blockchain, Signaling Server and VODEOapps. FIG. 29 shows an example of a VODEO app that connects to theBlockchain where the sender telephone number (key) is associated withthe sender IP address (value) and where the receiver telephone address(key) is associated with the receiver IP address (value). The blockchainmodule is operatively connected to the Signaling server for processingthe video chat offer and response communications, discovery, andconnection.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof VODEO apps connected in P2P connection and in a Blockchain Networkwith Group Node Coupling and Distributed Hash Tables. FIG. 30 shows thatthe group node coupling of subscribers within the Private Blockchainnetwork provides immutable video transaction, date, timestamps, and DHTencryption, e.g. Merkle tree.

FIG. 31 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof IP Address Discovery with VODEO apps. FIG. 31 shows a graphic forSubscriber Android phones with unidentified IP address having a VODEOapp installed that is connected to a cloud service for storing contactsand their telephone numbers, emails, etc. A text message sends fromSubscriber 1 sends a request for an IP address of Subscriber 2 using atelephone number of Subscriber 2. The App on Subscriber 2's phoneretrieves the Subscriber 2 IP address and sends the encrypted IP addressto Subscriber 1, e.g. in a text message or other App-to-Appcommunication. The VODEO app for the Subscribers 1&2 are peer connectedusing a decryption key provided by the signal server and the connectionis made using websocket.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof Blockchain with Distributed Identity and Directory, Distributed HashTables with Group Node Coupling. FIG. 32 shows how multiple subscriberswithin a group in a Private Blockchain can use group node coupling and adistributed ledger to establish blockchain peers. Encryption anddecryption allows for the sharing and connection using PII. PII caninclude a phone number, an email, an address, a social security number,an IP address, a credit card, a birth date, banking information, and/oran account number. FIG. 32 shows the WebRTC server discovering andconnecting the group for a group video chat using streaming video. A DRMmodule allows for the selection of specific permissions or rights.

FIG. 33 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof Private Blockchain with Distributed Hash Tables and Group NodeCoupling. FIG. 33 shows how a pair of subscribers from within a group ina Private Blockchain can use blockchain node coupling and a distributeddirectory and distributed hash table to establish blockchain peers.Encryption and decryption allows for the sharing and connection usingPII. FIG. 33 shows the WebRTC server discovering and connecting thesubscribers for a video chat using streaming video that is encryptedusing homomorphic encryption.

EXAMPLE

Let's say Alice wants to send an encrypted message to Bob. It would worklike this:

Alice sends the encrypted message to Bob—if a third party interceptedit, all they would see is random numbers and letters. Bob uses hisprivate key to decrypt and read the message.

Public-key cryptography is a fundamental element of blockchaintechnology—it is the underlying technology for transactions. When a usercreates a transaction on a blockchain, they are generating apublic-private key pair. The address of that transaction, or how it'srepresented on the blockchain, is a string of numbers and lettersgenerated from the public key. Due to the nature of blockchaintechnology, this address is public to everyone. The private keyassociated with a transaction is how to prove ownership and control thetransaction. A transaction on the blockchain is nothing more than abroadcasted message of the transaction. Once confirmed, the transactionis immutably written into the ledger, and the metadata is updated. Thistransaction message also requires a signature from the private key ofthe sender to be valid. After broadcasting, anyone can use the publickey to ensure the digital signature coming from the private key isauthentic.

Cryptographic Hashing

The invention provides cryptographic hashing as another fundamentalpiece of blockchain technology and is directly responsible for producingimmutability—one of the blockchain's most important features. Hashing isa computer science term that means taking an input string of any lengthand producing a fixed length output. It doesn't matter if the input to acertain hash function is 3 or 100 characters, the output will always bethe same length. Cryptographic hashing is another fundamental piece ofblockchain technology and is directly responsible for producingimmutability—one of blockchain's most important features. Cryptographichash functions* are hash functions that have these crucial properties:

Deterministic: No matter how many times you give the function a specificinput, it will always have the same output.

Irreversible: It is impossible to determine an input from the output ofthe function.

Collision resistance: No two inputs can ever have the same output.

Another important feature of cryptographic hash functions is thatchanging any bit of data in the input will drastically alter the output.For example, the hash outputs of 111111 and 111112 would be completelyunique and have no relation to each other.

So, how does cryptographic hashing enable immutability for blockchaintechnology? The answer is that every new block of data contains a hashoutput of all the data in the previous block. Imagine a blockchain thatjust added its 1000th block. The data from block 999 exists in block1000 as a hash function output. However, included in block 999's data isa hash of block 998's data, which contains a hash of block 998's data.

By traversing the hashes backwards, every block from 1000 to 1 is linkedby cryptographic hashing. This is ultimately what makes the data in ablockchain immutable. If someone tried to change just 1 bit of data inany past block, it would not only alter the hash output of that block'sdata, but every block after it.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Directed Acyclic Graph (DAG), “Merkle trees”. FIG. 34 shows asimplified version of a blockchain that leaves out some importantinformation. It has an arrow to show that each block's transactions arestored in a Merkle root, which is the root node of a Merkle tree. TheMerkle root is simply the root (top) node of a Merkle tree, meaning itrepresents a hash output of the combined hashes of the left and rightsub-trees. Each leaf node represents a hash of the data for transactionsA, B, C, and D. Then hash A and hash B are combined and hashed toproduce hash AB, and hash CD is produced in the same way. Finally, hashAB and hash CD are combined and hashed to form the Merkle root of thetree. Merkle trees are important for blockchain technology, because,using the Merkle root and applying the properties of cryptographic hashfunctions, one can quickly tell if transactions in a given block havebeen tampered with and the specific transaction that is being tampered.Merkle trees also allow users to verify that their transaction has beenincluded in a block without downloading the entire blockchain. Processessuch as Simplified Payment Verification are able to traverse branches inthe Merkle tree and check if a certain transaction has been hashed intothat tree. This level of efficiency for blockchain technology would beimpossible without including a Merkle root in each block.

Digital Rights Management (DRM)

DRM provides a permission based security protection system for audio andvideo which is seamlessly integrated with WebRTC browsers throughJavaScript API's. This facilitates Vodeo users to share confidentialvideo streaming content from a browser and to securely capture, record,store and share streamed video files for online playback from the cloudbased video storage vault. DRM controls user permissions and actionsrelated to content including restrictions on content access and sharingsuch as: record, forward, save, expire, revoke, erase, watermarks,content disappear, and screenshot disablement. It also provides detailedauditing, tracking and analytics from Blockchain. The DRM implementationalso provides security to block screen capture (screen capturedisablement) and enforces application blacklisting, a technique used toprevent certain malicious applications and executables from running overbrowsers. The DRM architecture and workflow in SRTCS. DRM alsofacilitates the creation of a secret video streaming chat which allows 2or more users to initiate a secret chat which restricts each participantfrom recording, copying or playback the streamed video. It also blocksscreen capture and allows revocation, expiration whitelist and blacklistoptions.

How does Digital Rights Management Work with WebRTC and SRTCS?

The DRM workflow is a multi-step system process involving the DRMWorkflow for

Audio/Video Content on a P2P connection with WebRTC.

(1) Encryption—DRM relies on encryption to protect the streamed videosand audios and authentication systems to ensure that only authorizedusers can unlock the video/audio streams from the WebRTC video and audiocodecs. The DRM solution scrambles the data in a stream and renders itunviewable to anyone without the appropriate encryption/decryption keys.

(2) Authentication—Authentication is used between the users and thedecryption keys to ensure that only people with proper permissions canobtain/execute a decryption key.

(3) OTT Platform Based Rights Management—Platform-based DRM solutionsenable an OTT secure messaging and real time communications service(SRTCS) to playback or restart playback via streaming or downloading andguard against video/audio copying or listening via HDMI outputs.

(4) Content Encryption—Encryption based DRM will encrypt the contentdriving streamed video sessions and on audio calls.

(5) DRM-enabled software embedded in WebRTC—DRM-embedded software thatcommunicates with the license server and enforces all software andhardware related to playback restrictions.

Streamed Video Storage and On-Line Video Sharing Platform

The SRTCS video storage and sharing platform is a secure on-line videosharing service that allows SRTCS subscribers to upload, view, share,and securely store streamed videos among SRTCS video chat subscribers.The main features of the video storage platform include:

Collaboration—share videos with friends and family

Security—deploys encryption, authentication and Digital Rightsprotection to streamed video at rest in storage and in use duringsharing and collaboration.

Access and Synchronization—automatic upload of streamed video recordingsfrom mobile app.

Video Management—supports video file versioning, video recovery, remoteupload capability and rewind features

Client-side mobile app encryption—provides mobile app encryption with aprivate encryption key provide complete security of streamed videosstored on the users mobile devices.

Zero Knowledge Privacy—neither SRCS nor any other service provider ordata center shall have access to the stored streamed video files.

Server-side Video Rendering—all streamed videos can be viewed by userson their mobile apps by simply clicking on a streamed video link and thestored videos are retrieved and rendered using server-side videorendering (viewing). The videos never remain or store on the usersmobile device unless the video owner grants such permission.

(1) Digital Rights Management (DRM) Protection

SRTCS has implemented DRM protection that provides a permissions basedvideo sharing security by implementing video streaming controls. DRMprotections range from secret videos—(no record, no playback, no screencapture, revocation and expiration) to preventing video forwarding,saving & applying watermarks to shared videos.

(2) Blockchain

Blockchain provides a distributed storage platform implementation wherevideos are stored on distributed servers and provide secure contentaddressing, content linking, content searching and content discovery(retrieval). For storage security, Blockchain deploys Distributed HashEncryption (DHT) and Distributed (Aajclic???) Graphs (DAG) to bothencrypt, protect and obfuscate the stored personal identifiableinformation (PII). Decentralized Digital Apps (“DApps”) provide contentaddressing, content linking and content discovery (searching) for storedstreamed videos. All videos are stored on distributed servers.

(3) Video Storage Platform

Streamed storage and video sharing platform works as follows:

Step 1—Two or more users establish a streamed video chat using the SRTCSvideo app on either an Android or IOS mobile phone.

Secret Video Chat—A secret video chat can be initiated by 2 or moresubscribers by mutually agreeing to participate in a secret video chat.In a secret chat, full restrictions of DRM protection are enforcedincluding the ability to block the recording of the video session. Onceterminated, a complete record of the secret video is erased (expunged)from both participants' apps and no record of the session is recorded orcan be entered into the storage platform. Video Chat—A video chat can beestablished between 2 or more subscribers who mutually allow one or bothusers to record the video session, and store the video in the storageplatform in the users storage account. All video chat have the option ofusing file based encryption using AES 256 Galois-Counter Mode (GCM)encryption.

Step 2—Upload the encrypted streamed video to the storage and sharingplatform in the users account. This upload process includes: user basedauthentication and the selection of DRM protections to be applied to thestored streamed video.

Step 3—Distributed Storage—The video is broken down into segments andprocessed parallely.

Step 4—CDN—A Content Delivery Network (CDN) is a global network ofservers that optimize web performance by using the node closest to theusers location for faster delivery of videos.

Step 5—Server Side Video Rendering—The video is retrieved from eitherthe CDN Server or Distributed Storage and rendered in the cloud usingserver side video rendering with DRM protection.

Real Time Messaging App for Android and IOS mobile platforms and on PC's

The roles and workflow of the Android/IOS mobile apps to access theSRTCS network for audio and video streaming communications and the videostorage and sharing platform for users and businesses are shown herein.

The SRTCS Systems Architecture, the subscriber Android/IOS mobile appallows users to access and control all user based operations of SRTCSusing JavaScript API's, include: WebRTC, Network Servers, Blockchain,Distributed Trust Platform (E2E Encryption), Digital Rights Protection(DRM), and Streamed video storage and sharing platform.

Secure WebRTC Voice Call Using VoIP Network or PSTN

WebRTC and SIP are two important technologies to establish a securevoice call using the VOIP network. Session Initiation Protocol—(SIP)—isa text based communications protocol for signaling and controllingmultimedia sessions on an IP Network. SIP is used to set up and modifycalls between two or more peers in a P2P network.

WebRTC Gateway

WebRTC provides a simple way to implement peer-to-peer communicationsbetween browsers. The WebRTC standards focus primarily on the mediaplane. Signaling plane functions—session setup and management—are leftto the application developer. New server side elements are required tointerwork dissimilar transport and signaling methods employed in the Weband IP communications domains.

The WebRTC gateway sits at the intersection of a conventional IP-basedcommunications network and the Internet. It bridges the Web andtraditional telecom worlds, providing signaling interworking, mediainterworking and transcoding, and application interworking functions.The WebRTC gateway can be delivered in the form of a turn-key applianceor a software-based solution that runs industry-standard servers.

Messaging+WebRTC+SIP=Audio Solution for VoIP

WebRTC is related to all the scenarios happening in SIP. Just like SIP,it creates the media session between two IP connected endpoints and usesRTP (Real-time Transport Protocol) for connection in the media planeonce the signaling is done. It uses SDP (Session Description Protocol)for describing the streaming media communication parameters.

The WebRTC differs in Two Key areas:

WebRTC doesn't mandate the usage of SIP messages in the signaling plane,instead of the actual signaling i.e., sending and receiving of SDPmessages is dependent on the application. It also uses some optional SIPfeatures in the media plane: the use of specific codes namely G.711 foraudio and H.264 are required for video. Use of SRTP (Secure Real-timeTransport Protocol) to provide maximum encryption & messageauthentication for media packets. And, it uses the Session TraversalUtilities for NAT and (STUN, TURN & ICE) for network traversal.

The Signaling Plane

Working on the assumption that your existing SIP infrastructure isn'tgoing to switch to a different signaling protocol, then the WebRTC hasto make progress. Achieving this includes: Ensure to use SIP as yoursignaling stack for the WebRTC enabled applications; and Use anothersignaling solution for your WebRTC enabled application. Make sure to adda signaling gateway to translate between the SIP and the currentsignaling.

The Media Plane

In order to integrate the SIP protocol into the WebRTC applications, ifthere is an already existing SIP infrastructure then an additional mediagateway is added known as Session Border Controller that enacts as agateway between WEbRTC and VoIP endpoints or if there is no SIPinfrastructure then choosing a WebRTC compatible SIP technology whichhas many SIP gateways and SIP trunking services is an optimal solution.

Distributed Trust Platform for VoIP and PSTN

The SRTCS platform provides complete control of and security for voicecalling over IP and either a VoIP implementation or the Public SwitchedTelephone Network (PSTN). The SRTCS platform includes: Distributed TrustPlatform, Encrypted Content Delivery Network (ECDN), Blockchain forDistributed Identity Directory and Personal Identifiable Information(PII) Encryption), and Digital Rights Protection to encrypt and protectvoice calls and voice call recording by third parties.

Encrypted Content Delivery Network (ECDN)

SRTCS has designed global network of secure servers for carrying securecall traffic and optimizing call performance beyond that which isavailable using only the PSTN or the Public Internet. For users thatrequire secure or secret voice call communications, SRTCS providessecure infrastructure control for all signaling and user management asfollows:

Signaling Server—handles authentication and call set-up for each user.

Media Servers—routes encrypted audio packets between two mobile phonesinvolved in the call session. The media relays record no user PII ormetadata regarding any media session.

SRTCS Voice Portal—a web based account management system to manage userprofiles, accounts, devices and subscriptions. Provides at a glance,dashboards and detailed reporting.

Distributed Trust Platform Cryptography

SRTCS uses advanced encryption technologies to secure audio phone calls,including: Advanced Encryption Standard (AES 256) for symmetricencryption, Elliptical Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) fordigital signatures, Secure Hash Algorithm (SHA-2) for message digest,Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDH) for key exchange using a sharedsecret technology, Double encryption—the voice call is first encryptedusing 256 bit AES encryption and then encrypted again using AES 256encryption.

Advanced Symmetric Encryption

The Distributed Trust Platform can be deployed using one or both of thefollowing symmetric-key encryption standards

(1) AES 256 Symmetric Encryption, and, or

(2) SRTP (Secure Real-time Transport Protocol).

256 AES Symmetric Encryption

Encryption works by taking plain text and converting it into ciphertext, which is made up of random characters. Only those who have thespecial key can decrypt it. AES uses symmetric key encryption, whichinvolves the use of only one secret key to cipher and decipherinformation.

The Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) is the first and only publiclyaccessible cipher approved by the US National Security Agency (NSA) forprotecting top secret information.

SRTP (Real-time Transport Protocol)

SRTP (Real-time Transport Protocol) is a cryptographic key-agreementprotocol to negotiate the keys for encryption between two end points ina Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) phone telephony call based on theReal-time Transport Protocol (SRTP) for encryption. “RTP” stands forReal-time Transport Protocol, which is a “key agreement protocol whichperforms Diffie-Hellman key exchange during call setup in-band in theReal-time Transport Protocol (RTP) media stream which has beenestablished using some other signaling protocol such as SessionInitiation Protocol (SIP). This generates a shared secret which is thenused to generate keys and salt for a secure RTP (SRTP) session which isused in WebRTC P2P audio and video sessions. One of SRTP's features isthat it does not rely on SIP signaling for the key management, or on anyservers at all. It supports opportunistic encryption by auto-sensing ifthe other VoIP client supports SRTP.

This protocol does not require prior shared secrets or rely on a Publickey infrastructure (PKI) or on certification authorities, in factephemeral Diffie-Hellman keys are generated on each sessionestablishment: this allows the complexity of creating and maintaining atrusted third-party to be bypassed.

These keys contribute to the generation of the session secret, fromwhich the session key and parameters for SRTP sessions are derived,along with previously shared secrets, if any. This gives protectionagainst man-in-the-middle (MiTM) attacks, so long as the attacker wasnot present in the first session between the two endpoints.

SRTP can be used with any signaling protocol, including SIP, anddistributed hash table systems. SRTP is independent of the signalinglayer, because all its key negotiations occur via the RTP media stream.

SRTP/S, a SRTP protocol extension, can run on any kind of legacytelephony networks including GSM and PSTN because it is a narrow-bandbitstream-oriented protocol and performs all key negotiations inside thebitstream between two endpoints.

The Diffie-Hellman key exchange by itself does not provide protectionagainst a man-in-the-middle attack. To ensure that the attacker isindeed not present in the first session (when no shared secrets exist),the Short Authentication String (SAS) method is used. the communicatingparties verbally cross-check a shared value displayed at both endpoints.If the values do not match, a man-in-the-middle attack is indicated. TheSAS is used to authenticate the key exchange, which is essentially acryptographic hash of the two Diffie-Hellman values. The SAS value isrendered to both ARTP endpoints. To carry out authentication, this SASvalue is read aloud to the communication partner over the voiceconnection. If the values on both ends do not match, a man-in-the-middleattack is indicated; if they do match, a man-in-the-middle attack ishighly unlikely. The use of hash commitment in the DH exchangeconstrains the attacker to only one guess to generate the correct SAS inthe attack, which means the SAS may be quite short. A 16-bit SAS, forexample, provides the attacker only one chance out of 65536 of not beingdetected.

SRTP provides a second layer of authentication against a MitM attack,based on a form of key continuity. It does this by caching some hashedkey information for use in the next call, to be mixed in with the nextcall's DH shared secret, giving it key continuity properties analogousto SSH. If the MitM is not present in the first call, he is locked outof subsequent calls. Thus, even if the SAS is never used, most MitMattacks are stopped because the MitM was not present in the first call.

Elliptic Curve Diffie-Hellman (ECDH)—(Shared Secret)

Elliptic-curve Diffie Hellman (ECDH) is a key agreement protocol thatallows two parties, each having an elliptic-curve public-private keypair, to establish a shared secret over an insecure channel. This sharedsecret may be directly used as a key, or to derive another key. The key,or the derived key, can then be used to encrypt subsequentcommunications using a symmetric-key cipher. It is a variant of theDiffie-Hellman protocol using elliptic-curve cryptography.

Key Establishment Protocol. The public keys are either static (andtrusted, say via a certificate) or ephemeral (also known as ECDHE, wherefinal ‘E’ stands for “ephemeral”) Ephemeral keys are temporary and notnecessarily authenticated, so if authentication is desired, authenticityassurances must be obtained by other means. Authentication is necessaryto avoid man-in-the-middle attacks.

Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm (ECDSA) offers a variant ofthe Digital Signature Algorithm (DSA) which uses elliptic curvecryptography. As with elliptic-curve cryptography in general, the bitsize of the public key believed to be needed for ECDSA is about twicethe size of the security level, in bits. For example, at a securitylevel of 80 bits (meaning an attacker requires a maximum of about 280operations to find the private key) the size of an ECDSA private keywould be 160 bits, whereas the size of a DSA private key is at least1024 bits. On the other hand, the signature size is the same for bothDSA and ECDSA: approximately 4t where t is the security level measuredin bits, that is, about 320 bits for a security level of 80 bits.

SHA-2 (Secure Hash Algorithm 2) is a set of cryptographic hash functionsdesigned by the United States National Security Agency (NSA) and firstpublished in 2001. They are built using the Merkle-Damgård construction,from a one-way compression function itself built using the Davies-Meyerstructure from a specialized block cipher.

The SHA-2 family consists of six hash functions with digests (hashvalues) that are 224, 256, 384 or 512 bits: SHA-224, SHA-256, SHA-384,SHA-512, SHA-512/224, SHA-512/256. SHA-256 and SHA-512 are novel hashfunctions computed with 32-bit and 64-bit words, respectively. They usedifferent shift amounts and additive constants, but their structures areotherwise virtually identical, differing only in the number of rounds.SHA-224 and SHA-384 are truncated versions of SHA-256 and SHA-512respectively, computed with different initial values. SHA-512/224 andSHA-512/256 are also truncated versions of SHA-512, but the initialvalues are generated using the method described in Federal InformationProcessing Standards (FIPS) PUB 180-4.

Sha-2 was first published by the National Institute of Standards andTechnology (NIST) as a U.S. federal standard (FIPS).

Multiple encryption is the process of encrypting an already encryptedmessage one or more times, either using the same or a differentalgorithm. Super encryption refers to the outer-level encryption of amultiple encryption.

Picking any two ciphers, if the key used is the same for both, thesecond cipher could possibly undo the first cipher, partly or entirely.This is true of ciphers where the decryption process is the same as theencryption process—the second cipher would completely undo the first. Ifan attacker were to recover the key through cryptanalysis of the firstencryption layer, the attacker could possibly decrypt all the remaininglayers, assuming the same key is used for all layers.

To prevent that risk, one can use keys that are statisticallyindependent for each layer (e.g. independent RNGs). Ideally each keyshould have separate and different generation, sharing, and managementprocesses.

Digital Rights Management (DRM) for audio call—Secret phone call withencrypted recorded conversations

Digital Rights Protection (DRM) for voice calls and video streamingprovides a permissions based security protection system that integratesdirectly into WebRTC browsers and the Vodeo video/audio messaging appthrough JavaScript API's. This facilitates audio/video users to initiateconfidential phone calls and video chats from a WebRTC browser. DRMcontrols users permissions and actions related to phone/audio callsincluding restrictions on content access, content recording and contentsharing with other parties. It allows users to initiate secret chats forboth phone calls using VoIP and video streaming or “Facetime” betweenparties by using DRM controls to restrict unwanted user actions such asvideo/audio recordings and sharing the content with unauthorized thirdparties. The ability to restrict voice recordings is a major technologybreakthrough for the Vodeo (SRTCS) service.

Private Blockchain with Distributed Hash Tables, Group Node Coupling,Distributed (encrypted) Identity and Digital Rights (DRM).

A Private Blockchain is an invitation-only network governed andcontrolled by a single (or group) entity. Entrants to the blockchainnetwork require permission to join, read, write and participate in theblockchain. There are different levels of access, and the information isencrypted to protect the commercial services confidentiality. The SRTCSsystem (Vodeo) described in this patent has implemented apermissioned-based blockchain (private blockchain) that deploys anaccess control layer to govern who has access to the network and users(subscribers) on the Private Blockchain network are vetted andcontrolled by the network rules.

The SRTCS blockchain contains a growing list of records (transactions)referred to as blocks that are linked using cryptography (encryption).Each block contains a cryptographic hash of the previous blocks (a timestamp) and transaction data (metadata), represented as a Merkle Tree.

Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT)

SRTC deploys Distributed Ledger Technology (DLT) for recording“transactions” or video and audio chats in which the transactions andtheir details are recorded in multiple places (multiple nodes) at thesame time. Distributed Ledgers have no central data store oradministrative functionality which is contrasted with widely used clouddatabases such as (BQL) Server.

Ledgers are essentially a permanent record of transactions and data.Blockchain, which bundles transactions into blocks that are chainedtogether (“connected”). DLT also has the potential to speedtransactions. Since they remove the need for a central authority.Blockchain technology makes use of cryptography for transactions,security and privacy-preserving protocols. Blockchain cryptographyincludes public-key cryptography, distributed hashing and Merkle Trees.

Group Node Coupling, Distributed Identities (DII) and Directories

SRTCS deploys blockchain to provide a record of each user's PII(Personal Identifiable Information) including a private IP address andto provide directory searching capability to find and connect 2 or moreusers to a video/audio chat session. This process also includes nodeaddressing, node discovery and group node coupling.

A profile of each subscriber is created in the blockchain that containsall PII and historical metadata of video/audio chats made with othersubscribers (called “Buds”) in SRTCS. A node coupling profile of “Buds”is created which streamlines the blockchain discovery (searching)algorithms to quickly identify and retrieve addressing and linkinginformation to achieve rapid connections between subscribers in thesystem.

WebRTC signaling server is used to connect 2 or more subscribers overthe P2P network. As discussed earlier, the signaling server translateseach user's private IP address to a public IP address to effectuate aconnection over the ICE (STUN, TURN) server network. An encryptedwebsocket connection is made between the users WebRTC based browser andthe signaling server in an encrypted hop-to-hop scenario. SRTCS uniquelydeploys homomorphic encryption to extract the private IP addresses ofeach subscriber without decrypting the private IP address payload in thesignaling server. This protects the users from any potential MitMprivate IP.

Referring now to FIGS. 35-38, FIG. 35 is a flowchart illustrating anon-limiting preferred embodiment of a Cloud Storage Server (e.g. IPFS)Stack. FIG. 36 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferredembodiment of a Addressing Process Flow. FIG. 37 is a flowchartillustrating a non-limiting preferred embodiment of Cloud Storage ServerDistributed Nodes. FIG. 38 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limitingpreferred embodiment of Distributed Secure Storage Using Cloud StorageServer, e.g. IPFS or other, and Blockchain.

Cloud Storage and IPFS—Distributed Video Storage Platform

IPFS is a peer-to-peer (p2p) storage network. Content is accessiblethrough peers located anywhere in the world, that might relayinformation, store it, or do both. IPFS knows how to find what you askfor using its content address rather than its location. There are threefundamental principles to understanding IPFS: Unique identification viacontent addressing, Content linking via directed acyclic graphs (DAGs),and Content discovery via distributed hash tables (DHTs). These threeprinciples build upon each other to enable the IPFS ecosystem.

Content Addressing

IPFS uses content addressing to identify content by what's in it ratherthan by where it's located. Every piece of content that uses the IPFSprotocol has a content identifier, or CID, that is its hash. The hash isunique to the content that it came from, even though it may look shortcompared to the original content. Many distributed systems make use ofcontent addressing through hashes as a means for not just identifyingcontent but also linking it together—everything from the commits thatback your code to the blockchains that run cryptocurrencies leveragethis strategy. However, the underlying data structures in these systemsare not necessarily interoperable. This is where the InterplanetaryLinked Data (IPLD) project comes in. IPLD translates between hash-linkeddata structures allowing for the unification of the data acrossdistributed systems. IPLD provides libraries for combining pluggablemodules (parsers for each possible type of IPLD node) to resolve a path,selector, or query across many linked nodes, allowing you to exploredata regardless of the underlying protocol. IPLD provides a way totranslate between content-addressable data structures. IPFS followsparticular data-structure preferences and conventions. The IPFS protocoluses those conventions and IPLD to get from raw content to an IPFSaddress that uniquely identifies content on the IPFS network.

Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAGs)

IPFS and many other distributed systems take advantage of a datastructure called directed acyclic graphs, or DAGs. Specifically, theyuse Merkle DAGs, which are DAGS where each node has a unique identifierthat is a hash of the node's contents. Put another way: identifying adata object (like a Merkle DAG node) by the value of its hash is contentaddressing. IPFS uses a Merkle DAG that is optimized for representingdirectories and files. To build a Merkle DAG representation of content,IPFS often first splits it into blocks. Splitting it into blocks meansthat different parts of the file can come from different sources and beauthenticated quickly.

Merkle DAGs are a bit of a “turtles all the way down” scenario; that is,everything has a CID. Let's say you have a file, and its CID identifiesit. What if that file is in a folder with several other files? Thosefiles will have CIDs too. What about that folder's CID? It would be ahash of the CIDs from the files underneath (i.e., the folder's content).In turn, those files are made up of blocks, and each of those blocks hasa CID. So a file system on your computer could be represented as a DAG.And this is how Merkle DAG graphs start to form.

Another useful feature of Merkle DAGs and breaking content into blocksis that if you have two similar files, they can share parts of theMerkle DAG, i.e., parts of different Merkle DAGs can reference the samesubset of data. For example, if you update a website, only updated filesreceive new content addresses. Your old version and your new version canrefer to the same blocks for everything else. This can make transferringversions of large datasets (such as genomics research or weather data)more efficient because you only need to transfer the parts that are newor have changed instead of creating entirely new files each time.

Accordingly, IPFS lets you give CIDs to content and link that contenttogether in a Merkle DAG.

Distributed Hash Tables (DHTs)

To find which peers are hosting the content you're after (discovery),IPFS uses a distributed hash table, or DHT. A hash table is a databaseof keys to values. A distributed hash table is one where the table issplit across all the peers in a distributed network. To find content,you ask the peers.

The libp2p project is the part of the IPFS ecosystem that provides theDHT and handles peers connecting and talking to each other. (Note that,as with IPLD, libp2p can also be used as a tool for other distributedsystems, not just IPFS.)

Once you know where your content is (or, more precisely, which peers arestoring each of the blocks that make up the content you're after), youuse the DHT again to find the current location of those peers (routing).So, in order to get to content, you use libp2p to query the DHT twice.

You've discovered your content, and you've found the current location(s)of that content. Now, you need to connect to that content and get it(exchange). To request blocks from and send blocks to other peers, IPFScurrently uses a module called Bitswap. Bitswap allows you to connect tothe peer or peers that have the content you want, send them yourwantlist (a list of all the blocks you're interested in), and have themsend you the blocks you requested. Once those blocks arrive, you canverify them by hashing their content to get CIDs and compare them to theCIDs that you requested. These CIDs also allow you to deduplicate blocksif needed.

Libp2p

What makes libp2p especially useful for peer to peer connections isconnection multiplexing. Traditionally, every service in a system opensa different connection to communicate with other services of the samekind remotely. Using IPFS, you open just one connection, and youmultiplex everything on that. For everything your peers need to talk toeach other about, you send a little bit of each thing, and the other endknows how to sort those chunks where they belong.

This is useful because establishing connections is usually hard to setup and expensive to maintain. With multiplexing, once you have thatconnection, you can do whatever you need on it.

A Modular Paradigm—IPFS

The IPFS ecosystem is made up of many modular libraries that supportspecific parts of any distributed system. You can certainly use any partof the stack independently or combine them in novel ways.

The IPFS ecosystem gives CIDs to content and links that content togetherby generating

IPLD Merkel DAGs. You can discover content using a DHT that's providedby libp2p, open a connection to any provider of that content, anddownload it using a multiplexed connection. All of this is held togetherby the middle of the stack, which is linked, unique identifiers; that'sthe essential part that IPFS is built on.

Smart Contract is a computer program or a transaction protocol which isintended to automatically execute, control or document legally relevantevents and actions according to the terms of a contract or an agreement.The objectives of smart contracts are the reduction of need in trustedintermediators, arbitrations and enforcement costs, fraud losses, aswell as the reduction of malicious and accidental exceptions.

Like a transfer of value on a blockchain, deployment of a smart contracton a blockchain occurs by sending a transaction from a wallet for theblockchain. The transaction includes the compiled code for the smartcontract as well as a special receiver address. That transaction mustthen be included in a block that is added to the blockchain, at whichpoint the smart contract's code will execute to establish the initialstate of the smart contract. Byzantine fault-tolerant algorithms securethe smart contract in a decentralized way from attempts to tamper withit. Once a smart contract is deployed, it cannot be updated. Smartcontracts on a blockchain can store arbitrary state and executearbitrary computations. End clients interact with a smart contractthrough transactions. Such transactions with a smart contract can invokeother smart contracts. These transactions might result in changing thestate and sending coins from one smart contract to another or from oneaccount to another.

WebRTC for Peer-to Peer Streaming from an IP Camera

Tunneling video from surveillance IP-cameras through cloud services hasboth high monetary cost and latency. Streaming the video peer-to-peercan eliminate both these factors while upholding quality of service.WebRTC is an open web standard, streaming API which enables browsers anddevices to communicate peer-to-peer without any plugins. While earlierIP-camera implementations have been dependent on intermediate servers,this thesis investigates the possibilities of moving the intermediateserver to the camera. Focus is on device performance with regards to CPUand memory usage, network throughput, latency, and capacity. A WebRTCserver/gateway called Janus was used, installed on two different currentgeneration Axis IP-cameras. The result showed that our WebRTC solutionperformed comparably to a RTSP (Real Time Streaming Protocol) overWebSocket based one. This does not only pave the way for moreimplementations built upon WebRTC for IP-cameras, but for all embeddeddevices.

Surveillance cameras have proven to be effective in preventing crime andthere is no doubt that the world embraces this fact. Axis and Hikvision,two of the largest surveillance IP-camera producers, are both showingsteady growth over the last few years. A common surveillance method isto have alarm centrals monitor many cameras placed in multiplelocations, by communicating with the cameras over the internet. Thisvideo stream is often, at least by Axis, tunneled through a cloudservice which is both expensive and complicated to set up for theprovider. Even if streaming video through a cloud service works, therewould be many advantages if the video could be streamed directly fromthe camera to the viewer. WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communications) is afree, open web standard that provides browsers and mobile applicationswith RTC capabilities via simple APIs. It enables the client to send andreceive media using only a modern browser without any plugins and withself-signed certificates. Compared to other solutions where the twopeers must trust each other, requiring signed certificates to be placedon all cameras, both peers must only trust the same server. In the caseof WebRTC, that trusted server is the signaling server. After performinga key exchange, which is used to encrypt the traffic peer-to-peer, thepeers are no longer dependent on the signaling server. This inventionincludes the use of WebRTC for Peer-to-peer streaming from an embeddeddevice.

WebRTC Gateway & Server

When two browsers are communicating using WebRTC, e.g., in a video call,both browsers are acting as both server and client. When communicatingusing WebRTC without a browser, some sort of WebRTC server is needed.Most WebRTC servers support relaying media over WebRTC, that mediarelaying feature is called a gateway. WebRTC gateways create a bridgebetween legacy infrastructures and WebRTC. Protocols like SIP (SessionInitiation Protocol), RTP and RTSP are some examples that most WebRTCgateways support. Janus is an open source WebRTC server written in Cthat is designed to be lightweight in its original configuration, butexpandable with plugins to suit many needs. It is described by itscreators as “a general purpose WebRTC gateway” since it can beconfigured in so many different ways. Janus helps with managing WebRTCcommunications between itself and browsers, between two browsers ormanaging video conference calls between multiple browsers.

FIGS. 39 and 40 describe the modular design of Janus. The corecommunicates with a browser using a JSON-based protocol over HTTP andthrough WebRTC PeerConnections, while the plugins provide the core withRTP streams. The core is then responsible for sending the RTP stream viaa PeerConnection. Alongside using HTTP, Janus supports a handful ofother ways to communicate, all modular to keep the server as lightweightas possible. The other ways of communication are WebSocket, RabbitMQ,MQTT, Nanomsg and UnixSockets. The plugin that is interesting for videostreaming is the streaming plugin. With the streaming plugin, Janus canrelay RTP and RTSP video/audio streams in three different ways. Thefirst is on demand streaming of a server-side file, where all viewersstream in their own context. The second is live streaming of aserver-side file, where all viewers see the same stream. The third typeis live streaming of media (RTP/RTSP), generated by an external toollike GStreamer or FFMPEG. When live streaming from an external tool, allviewers are watching the same stream.

Media streams are added as “mountpoints” and a single WebRTC GatewayServer, e.g. Janus Server, can have multiple mountpoints attached at thesame time which users can choose to stream from. RTP streams are addedby addressing a port and for RTSP streams, an URL is needed as well asusername and password if set. Regarding video codec support, whilerelaying RTP streams Janus supports anything since the video streamitself is not modified. Instead, the limitations are set by WebRTC andthe browser. The streaming plugin also exposes an API which can be usedto list available streams, get info about the mountpoints, andedit/add/remove mountpoints. Janus also has an Admin APO which can listactive sessions, show statistics about connections, and change serversettings. This Admin API is very useful when debugging connection andplugin problems while developing software interacting with Janus.

GStreamer

Instead of using the cameras built in RTSP server and relaying thestream to WebRTC using a WebRTC gateway, a more effective solution couldbe to change the GStreamer pipeline on the camera. GStreamer recentlyadded a WebRTC sink in version 1.12. By having GStreamer output WebRTCdirectly instead of RTSP, the conversion process from RTSP to WebRTCwould be removed. This can potentially lead to not only cameraperformance enhancement, but also improvements in latency and otherstream related performance metrics. The main reason for us notinvestigating this, is the deploy ability issue. Installing a WebRTCserver on the cameras as an ACAP is much easier than updating GStreamerand using the sink, especially on older cameras.

GStreamer is an open source multimedia framework mainly used to createmedia applications (streaming, media playback, non-linear editing,etc.). The GStreamer framework is designed to make it easy to writeapplications that handle audio or video or both.

GStreamer is a framework for creating streaming media applications. Thefundamental design comes from the video pipeline at Oregon GraduateInstitute, as well as some ideas from DirectShow.

GStreamer's development framework makes it possible to write any type ofstreaming multimedia application. The GStreamer framework is designed tomake it easy to write applications that handle audio or video or both.It isn't restricted to audio and video, and can process any kind of dataflow. The pipeline design is made to have little overhead above what theapplied filters induce. This makes GStreamer a good framework fordesigning even high-end audio applications which put high demands onlatency.

One of the most obvious uses of GStreamer is using it to build a mediaplayer. GStreamer already includes components for building a mediaplayer that can support a very wide variety of formats, including MP3,Ogg/Voris, MPEG-1/2, AVI, Quicktime, mod, and more. GStreamer, however,is much more than just another media player. Its main advantages arethat the pluggable components can be mixed and matched into arbitrarypipelines so that it's possible to write a full-fledged video or audioediting application.

The framework is based on plugins that will provide the various codecand other functionality. The plugins can be linked and arranged in apipeline. This pipeline defines the flow of the data. Pipelines can alsobe edited with a GUI editor and saved as XML so that pipeline librariescan be made with a minimum of effort.

The GStreamer core function is to provide a framework for plugins, dataflow and media type handling/negotiation. It also provides an API towrite applications using the various plugins.

WebRTC Gateway Server, for Example Janus Gateway Server

The Janus WebRTC Server has been conceived as a general-purpose server.As such, it does not provide any functionality per se other thanimplementing the means to set up a WebRTC media communication with abrowser, exchanging JSON messages with it, and relaying RTP/RTCP andmessages between browsers and the server-side application logic they areattached to. Any specific feature/application needs to be implemented inserver-side plugins, that browsers can then contact via the Janus coreto take advantage of the functionality they provide. Example of suchplugins can be implementations of applications like echo tests,conference bridges, media recorders, SIP gateways and the like. JanusWebRTC can be easily installed on Linux in a Ubuntu server.

The main idea behind the Janus WebRTC gateway is to make available acomponent that is general enough to flexibly adapt to as many situationsas possible, by relying on a lightweight WebRTC core that can beproperly extended/customized through dynamic injection of applicationspecific plugins.

There is a need for components to bridge WebRTC endpoints to legacyarchitectures and technologies. The Janus architecture is modular.Specifically, it was designed as a core with a specific set ofresponsibilities, and pluggable modules to provide specific features,namely support for legacy technologies and protocols. Janus wasdeveloped in a standard way to implement an effective communicationamong Application Servers handling application logic, and Media Serversenforcing the related media manipulation tasks. Communication relied oncontrol packages, allowing the usage of a generic protocol to drive thecommunication between an application and one or more packages providingspecific functionality in a pluggable way. Accordingly Janus wasdesigned with a core handling the high-level communication with users(sessions and handles management, WebRTC-related protocols) andserver-side plugins to provide specific functionality in a way that istransparent to WebRTC, and as such independent from the web application.

FIG. 41 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a WebRTC Gateway Server to Establish Video Chat with VODEO apps. FIG.41 shows a VODEO App for a Sender transmitting the sender phone number,the receiver's phone number, the sender's private IP address, and a Pingrequest to a WebRTC Gateway Server. A confirmation ping is returned andthe Server populates the Sender data file with the information provided.The receiver VODEO app receives a notification Ping and replies with aprivate IP address to the Server. The WebRTC Server then establishes thePeer Connection between the sender and the receiver.

FIG. 42 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a VODEO app and WebRTC Gateway Server—Video Chat Connection. FIG. 42shows a VODEO App for a Sender using the “push to connect” function totransmit the sender phone number, the receiver's phone number, thesender's private IP address, and a Ping request to a WebRTC GatewayServer. A confirmation ping is returned and the Server populates theSender data file with the information provided. The receiver VODEO appreceives a notification Ping and replies with a private IP address tothe Server. The WebRTC Server then establishes the Peer Connectionbetween the sender and the receiver. FIG. 42 shows that DRM permissionand encryption selections are available.

FIG. 43 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Video Chat

Workflow—VODEO app, WebRTC, Janus Gateway, Blockchain. This figure showsa WebRTC-Janus Gateway Server to Establish Video Chat with VODEO apps.FIG. 43 shows a VODEO App for a Sender transmitting in a JSON Messagethe sender's phone number, the receiver's phone number, the sender'sprivate IP address, and a INVITE request to a WebRTC-Janus GatewayServer. The Server exchanges and replays JSON messages with thereceiver, and between server side plugins and the App. The receiverVODEO app receives a notification of the invite and replies with aprivate IP address to the Server. The WebRTC-Gateway Server, e.g. JanusServer then establishes the Peer Connection between the sender and thereceiver. A DHCP Server is also shown in order to assign mobile IPaddresses, assign default Gateways, and assign network parameters forWiFi, router, and NAT traversal. A Blockchain module provides group nodecoupling with distributed hash table technology for PII. Janus plug-insprovide voice mail, video calls, streaming, SIP, audio bridging, videoroom options, text room options, recording, and playback.

FIG. 44 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a WebRTC-Janus Gateway Server to Establish Video Chat with VODEOapps. FIG. 44 shows a VODEO App for a Sender transmitting the senderphone number, the receiver's phone number, the sender's private IPaddress, and a Ping request to a WebRTC-Janus Gateway Server. Aconfirmation ping is returned and the Server populates the Sender datafile with the information provided. The receiver VODEO app receives anotification Ping and replies with a private IP address to the Server.The WebRTC-Gateway Server then establishes the Peer Connection betweenthe sender and the receiver.

FIG. 45 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a VODEO app and WebRTC-Janus Gateway Server—Video Chat Connection.FIG. 45 shows a VODEO App for a Sender using the “push to connect”function to transmit the sender phone number, the receiver's phonenumber, the sender's private IP address, and a Ping request to aWebRTC-Janus Gateway Server. A confirmation ping is returned and theServer populates the Sender data file with the information provided. Thereceiver VODEO app receives a notification Ping and replies with aprivate IP address to the Server. The WebRTC-Server then establishes thePeer Connection between the sender and the receiver. FIG. 45 shows thatDRM permission and encryption selections are available.

FIG. 46 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a WebRTC-Janus Gateway Video Chat Workflow Diagram. Similar to FIG.28, FIG. 46 shows the flowchart starting with a Sender initiating avideo chat on a App that is connected to a WebRTC-Janus Gateway Serverhaving a Private Blockchain with DHT, an Interplanetary File System(IPFS) Server and a Security Module for personally identifiableinformation (P.I.I.). The sender identifies the receiver on the senderdevice and pushes a button to peer connect to the receiver for a videochat. The button push commences a process that uploads to theWebRTC-Janus Gateway Server a request file or communication containingthe receiver telephone number, the sender telephone number, the sender'sIP address, and an SMS video chat invite. The WebRTC-Janus GatewayServer receives, processes, and forwards the request file to thereceiver. The receiver sends a response to the SMS invite, within theApp, or using an API within the App integrated with the native orinstalled messaging software. This response generates within the APP anupload from the receiver of the receiver IP address and port. The senderapp and the receiver app are peer-2-peer connected in accordance withWebRTC-Janus protocol, and a video chat connection is established.

FIG. 47 is an illustration of a non-limiting preferred embodiment of anAndroid smartphone screen showing IP address.

FIG. 48 is an illustration of a non-limiting preferred embodiment of aniOS smartphone screen showing IP address.

FIG. 49 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Media Flow

Path in P2P WebRTC Communication. This figure shows a media sourceconnected to a WebRTC App with a browser functionality and havingdigital signal processing functions, such as echo cancellation, noisereduction, etc. A Peer Connection packetizes the bitstream intofragments, encrypts the payload, send the communication through thetransport layer to the network layer to a cloud server. Thecommunications are then downloaded from the cloud, through the networklayer, and the transport layer for decryption, digital processing, andforwarding to a content display device.

FIG. 50 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Secret Video chat with DRM. This figure shows VODEO app #1 on adevice providing a media source, with selections for recording, DRM,playback, encryption, and browser. The VODEO app then processes the fileand transports over the P2P connection for delivery to the VODEO app #2on device #2. A selection for secret chat, DRM, and encryption areprovide by menu in the VODEO app with functionality for these featuresbeing implemented with a combination of server-side modules and localdevice VODEO app programming.

FIG. 51 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a JANUS video room plug-in for End-to-End encryption and for videoconferencing (SFU). This figure shows the use of insertable streams asan API that enables the insertion of user-defined processing steps forencoding/decoding of WebRTC media stream track and provides end-to-endencryption of the encoded data transferred via RTC peer connections. TheJanus-WebRTC Server establishes media communication with a browser orbrowser functionality, exchanges JSON messages, and relays RTP/RTCP andmessages between Apps/browsers and server-side applications.

FIG. 52 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a WebRTC Insertable Streams for E2E encryption. This figure shows amedia stream flowing to an encoder, then to an insertable stream. Theinsertable stream is sent to the RTP packetizer, sent for DTLSencryption, and then 256 AES GM encryption, before it is uploaded overthe P2P DTLS/SRTP peer connection. The signal/communication is thendownloaded for DTLS decryption, 256 AES GCM decryption, RTPdepacketizing, processing as an insertable stream, decoded and sent asan HTML media element.

FIG. 53 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof Data Channels Broadcasting with JANUS. This figure shows a publishersending a message through a Server to a video room. The message is splitamongst the subscriber group, and is also shared with a UDP server as anapplication to provide data channel broadcasting.

An overview of the architecture and related interactions is depicted.The core is mostly responsible for three things: managing applicationsessions with users through a REST-ful API; implementing the WebRTCcommunication with the same users, by taking care of the whole WebRTClifecycle (negotiation, establishment, and management ofPeerConnections); and attaching users to plugins, in order to allow themto exchange messages (based on a per-plugin ad-hoc protocol) and moreimportantly media (relaying plain RTP/RTCP). This allows plugins toeasily communicate with WebRTC users, as most hassles associated withthe WebRTC stack are masked by the gateway core. Janus plugins just needto implement the related plugin APO to set up a specific session withusers that want to take advantage of their features and get prepared toreceive and/or send RTP packets and related RTCP messages, in case ofneed.

The core only implements the WebRTC stack, JSEP/SDP, ICE, DTLS-SRTP,Data Channels, Plug-ins for Janus API different “Transports”,HTTP/WebSockets/RabbitMQ/UnixSockets/MQTT. Application Logic isimplemented in Plug-ins. Plugins route/manipulate the media/data.Plugins can be combined on the client side for Video SFU, AudioMCU, SIPGatewaying, broadcasting etc. Plugins are used as “bricks” to compose anapplication, e.g. Streaming+VideoRoom=Social TV, VideoRoom+AudioBridge+TextRoom=Webinar.

GStreamer and WebRTC

GStreamer is a pipeline-based multimedia framework that links together awide variety of media processing systems to complete complex workflows.GStreamer is used to build a system that reads files in one format,processes them, and exports them in another. The formats and processescan be changed in a plug and play fashion.

GStreamer supports a wide variety of media-handling components,including simple audio playback, audio and video playback, recording,streaming and editing. The pipeline design serves as a base to createmany types of multimedia applications such as video editors,transcoders, streaming media broadcasters and media players. GStreamerprovides a flexible way to implement any application that needs to play,recofd, or transform media-like data across a diverse scale of devicesand products, including embedded IoT devices, desktop (video/musicplayers), video recording, video conferencing, VoIP clients, WebRTCbrowsers servers (encode/transcode forms). GStreamer is free andopen-source software. It was designed to work on a variety of operatingsystems, e.g. Linux kernel-based operating systems, and supportsAndroid, macOS, iOS, and Windows.

GStreamer WebRTC is a flexible solution to web-based media. TheGStreamer's WebRTC implementation eliminates some of the shortcomings ofusing WebRTC in native apps, server applications, and IoT devices. Onekey application is to convert various audio (including WAV, MP3, MediaAudio) and video formats (including MPEG, MOV & AUI) to be compatiblewith WebRTC specified video codecs (V8/V9) and audio codecs (iSAC andiLBC) for VoIP. GStream can be integrated with Raspberry PI4 and Ubuntuservers and many IoT device formats.

FIG. 54 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof Scaling Server-side WebRTC applications with Janus and shows a JANUSWebRTC Gateway. This figure shows a WebRTC browser in communication witha Janus Gateway and sending HTTP/JSOn messages, and having a PeerConnection. The Janus Gateway has a core for sending RTP through pluginsto Legacy devices and legacy protocols. FIG. 54 shows protocol messageshaving a header payload, sent through the Janus core to the plugins asnecessary. FIG. 54 shows a SIP Gateway wherein a WebRTC useshttp/wss/json messaging with ice/dtls/srtp encryption connects to anServer with an SIP plugin for communication with SIP infrastructure.

FIG. 55 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Janus Extensible Architecture and API. This figure shows a usercreate a session sending a request to an WebRTC Server. A session ID isassigned by the Janus Server to the user. The user attaches a handle,session ID, and plugin information to communicate with a remote plugin.The remote plugin approves the connection and provides the user with ahandle ID. As before the user is in communication with a WebRTC Server,which is in communication with a remote plugin. The WebRTC between theuser ad the Janus Server is sent using a JSEP offer and answer, theplug-in sends a notification answer after receipt of the offer, and thecommunications are encrypted using ICE/DTLS/SRTP encryption between theuser and the Janus Server, and using RTP between the Janus Sever and theplug-in. Eahc plugin may be a feature in a webinar, a videocommunication in a social network, and/or social TV, streaming and videorooms.

FIG. 56 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof a Janus WebRTC Gateway Use Case. FIG. 56 shows that Janus is usedtoday for many implementations, including Web Conferencing, Webinars,WebRTC-to-SIP Gateway, Streaming live events, Surveillance Systems,E-Health, Home Automation, Internet of Things, Mobile Devices, RaspberryPI's, Wearables, Drones etc

FIG. 57 is a flowchart illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodimentof Janus WebRTC Video Conferencing. FIG. 57 shows how three participantsconnect to the Janus video room plug-in to start a video room andpublish media and subscribe to the other participants' videos usingWebRTC.

FIG. 58 is a diagram illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodiment ofa WebRTC Video Chat workflow. FIG. 58 shows a WebRTC Video Chat AppWorkflow and shows an example of a WebRTC-Janus Gateway ServerEstablishing Video Chat with VODEO apps. FIG. 58 shows a VODEO WebRTCApp for a Sender transmitting in a JSON Message the sender's phonenumber, the receiver's phone number, the sender's private IP address,and a INVITE request to a WebRTC-Janus Gateway Server. The Serverexchanges and replays JSON messages with the receiver, and betweenserver side plugins and the App. The receiver WebRTC VODEO app receivesa notification of the invite and replies with a private IP address tothe Server. The WebRTC-Janus Server then establishes the Peer Connectionbetween the sender and the receiver. A Signaling Server is also shown inorder to assist discovery of IP addresses, for media format negotiation,assign network parameters for WiFi, router, and NAT traversal. ABlockchain module provides group node coupling with distributed hashtable technology for PII.

FIG. 59 is a diagram illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodiment ofa SRTCS Network with WebRTC apps, Janus Gateway, Blockchain, Janusplugins, and end-to-end encryption (E2EE). FIG. 59 shows a WebRTC VideoChat App Workflow and shows an example of a WebRTC-Janus Gateway ServerEstablishing Video Chat with VODEO apps. FIG. 59 shows a VODEO WebRTCApp for a Sender transmitting in a JSON Message the sender's phonenumber, the receiver's phone number, the sender's private IP address,and a INVITE request to a WebRTC-Janus Gateway Server. The Serverexchanges and replays JSON messages with the receiver, and betweenserver side plugins and the App. The receiver WebRTC VODEO app receivesa notification of the invite and replies with a private IP address tothe Server. The WebRTC-Janus Server then establishes the Peer Connectionbetween the sender and the receiver. A Signaling Server is also shown inorder to assist discovery of IP addresses, for media format negotiation,assign network parameters for WiFi, router, and NAT traversal. ABlockchain module provides group node coupling with distributed hashtable technology for PII. Janus plug-ins provide voice mail, videocalls, streaming, SIP, audio bridging, video room options, text roomoptions, recording, and playback.

FIG. 60 is a diagram illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodiment ofa WebRTC Gateway Server for establishing video chat with the VODEO apps.FIG. 60 shows Sender VODEO app transmitting the sender phone number, thereceiver phone number, the JSON message invite, and the Sender privateIP address to the WebRTC-Janus Gateway Server. The Server logs theSender information and matches, using the response from the receiver,the receiver connection information. The WebRTC-Janus gateway Serverthen connects the Sender and the Receiver with a Peer Connection for avideo chat.

FIG. 61 is a diagram illustrating a non-limiting preferred embodiment ofa SRTCS WebRTC app in communication with a Janus Gateway Server andillustrates an example of secret video chat. This figure shows a SenderApp in communication with a WebRTC-Janus Gateway that is incommunication with a Receiver App. The Sender App. using the “pushbutton” feature starts the chat, accesses and selects the receiver'sphone number, and the App creates a file containing the Receiver number,the Sender number, a JSON SMS Invite, the Sender private IP address, aDRM permissions selection, and an encryption selection. The Apps eachstore an encryption key locally to provide the CODEC restriction tied tothe DRM permission.

FIG. 61 shows the WebRTC-Janus Gateway receiving and forwarding, via SMSor similar modality, the Sender request and invite to the Receiver App.The receiver receives a video chat notification, selects or generates aJSON SMS reply, and provides a receiver private IP address, selects oraccepts DRM permissions and encryption. The Apps can also provide anoption for a Secret Video chat where the recording and storagefunctionality is disabled within the App for the video chat.

FIG. 61 also shows that the WebRTC-Janus Gateway then establishes orfacilitates the P2P video chat connection between the private IPaddresses of the Sender and the Receiver, without requiring thedisclosure of the IP addresses to either party.

Many modifications and variations can be made without departing from itsspirit and scope, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.Functionally equivalent methods and apparatuses within the scope of thedisclosure, in addition to those enumerated herein, will be apparent tothose skilled in the art from the foregoing descriptions. Suchmodifications and variations are intended to fall within the scope ofthe appended claims. The present disclosure is to be limited only by theterms of the appended claims, along with the full scope of equivalentsto which such claims are entitled. It is to be understood that thisdisclosure is not limited to particular methods, reagents, compounds,compositions or biological systems, which can, of course, vary. It isalso to be understood that the terminology used herein is for thepurpose of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intendedto be limiting.

While various embodiments have been described above, it should beunderstood that they have been presented by way of example only, and notlimitation. Where methods described above indicate certain eventsoccurring in certain order, the ordering of certain events may bemodified. Additionally, certain of the events may be performedconcurrently in a parallel process when possible, as well as performedsequentially as described above.

Where schematics and/or embodiments described above indicate certaincomponents arranged in certain orientations or positions, thearrangement of components may be modified. While the embodiments havebeen particularly shown and described, it will be understood thatvarious changes in form and details may be made. Any portion of theapparatus and/or methods described herein may be combined in anycombination, except mutually exclusive combinations.

The embodiments described herein can include various combinations and/orsub-combinations of the functions, components, and/or features of thedifferent embodiments described. Various of the above-disclosed andother features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combinedinto many other different systems or applications. Various presentlyunforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, orimprovements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in theart, each of which is also intended to be encompassed by the disclosedembodiments.

1. A method, comprising: Sending, in a WebRTC chat application on afirst communication device, a telephone number of the firstcommunication device, a private device IP address of the firstcommunication device, and a JSON SMS message invite which includes asecond telephone number of a second communication device, the JSON SMSmessage containing an invite to join a video/audio chat session, to aWebRTC-Gateway Server to mediate media communications and exchange JSONmessages and RTP/RTCP messages with the second communication device,Connecting a Private Blockchain module to the WebRTC-Gateway Server andestablishing a permission-based access control layer to govern networkaccess by the first communication device and the second communicationdevice, said Private Blockchain module generating an immutable record ofWebRTC connection transactions between the first communication deviceand the second communication device, said Private Blockchain modulehaving the second telephone number of the second communication device,Sending, in a WebRTC chat application on the second communicationdevice, a JSON SMS message reply containing an answer (accept/decline)to the invite and a private IP address of the second communicationdevice to the WebRTC-Gateway Server, Establishing a communicationbetween the WebRTC-Gateway Server and a Signaling Server, said Signalingserver used to provide communication discovery and media formatnegotiation between the first communication device and the secondcommunication device based on connecting a public-private IP address ofthe first communication device to a public-private IP address of thesecond communication device, Establishing an encrypted WebRTCpeer-to-peer video and/or audio connection between the WebRTC chatapplication of the first communication device and the WebRTC chatapplication of the second communication device, and deploying anadvanced security technology module to provide user-based permissioncontrol when communicating and sharing rich media content including AES256 Galois/Counter mode (GCM), Elliptical-curve Diffie Hellmanencryption, and a asymmetrical key management system, Connecting aDistributed Ledger Technology (DLT) module to the WebRTC-Gateway Serverand recording WebRTC audio and video transactions, and storing theWebRTC audio and video transactions and user personally identifiableinformation (PII) in distributed blocks in multiple locations, and 2.The method of claim 1, wherein the WebRTC chat application comprisesvideo chat and voice chat.
 3. The method of claim 2, comprising saving achat session comprising the video chat and the voice chat, in anencrypted communication between the first communication device and aCloud Storage Server connected to the first communication device,wherein the video chat and voice chat are stored by the Cloud StorageServer.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the Cloud Storage Server usesa Distributed Hash Table, and wherein the telephone number of the firstcommunication device is a key mapped to a second value that is the chatsession.
 5. The method of claim 4, comprising: assigning, in a menu ofthe WebRTC chat application on the first communication device, a DRMpermission to the chat session saved to the Cloud Storage Server,wherein the DRM permission is selected from the group consisting of:record, not record, store, screen share, revoke, expire, offline view,blacklist, copy, forward, screen capture, rights violation, andcancel/disappear, and wherein DRM permission is provided by a DRM moduleto apply user permissions relating to video/audio streaming on a P2Pconnection.
 6. The method of claim 5, comprising: rendering, in arendering module of the Cloud Storage Server, an HTML file of the savedchat session, the HTML file stored in the Cloud Storage Server andhaving a URL link associated therewith.
 7. The method of claim 6,comprising: enforcing the DRM permission of the chat session, said CloudStorage Server in encrypted communication with the second communicationdevice, said second communication device having the WebRTC chatapplication operatively connected to the WebRTC browser of the secondcommunication device to access, using the URL link, the HTML file of thesaved chat session saved in the Cloud Storage Server, wherein the savedchat session is rendered on the Cloud Storage Server, and said WebRTCchat application enforces the DRM permission of the saved chat sessionusing a DRM enforcement module in the WebRTC chat application, and saidDRM enforcement module configured to send an enforcement command when aDRM permission violation is detected to revoke an encryption key thatencrypts an electronic signal between the WebRTC chat application andthe WebRTC browser, wherein the electronic signal is between a CODEC inthe WebRTC browser and a playback component or module for a speaker ordisplay of the second communication device.
 8. The method of claim 7,wherein the Private Blockchain module is in communication with the CloudStorage Server and provides user identity, authentication, a digitalhash, Group Node Coupling, personally-identifiable information (PII)security, content linking, content searching, and content addressing. 9.The method of claim 8, wherein the WebRTC chat application comprises ahardware security module in communication with the Cloud Storage Serverto provide AES 256 GCU encryption, and ECDH Diffie-Hellman encryptionfor audio and video streams, and wherein the WebRTC chat applicationprovides a secret video chat module using DRM control and ECDHencryption to prevent video recording/playback using an encrypted keywith expiration and revocation controls.
 10. The method of claim 9,wherein the WebRTC chat application comprises a key management module incommunication with the WebRTC-Gateway Server and the Signaling Server toprovide homomorphic encryption of a communication between theWebRTC-gateway Server and the Signaling Server, said homomorphicencryption allowing the Signaling Server to extract the private IPaddress without decrypting JSON SMS message content.
 11. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the WebRTC chat application has an insertable streamsmodule to provide end-to-end encryption for a middlebox device and forSelective Forwarding Units (SFUs) for media routing in a videoconferenceapplication where insertable streams iterate on frames and not RTPpackets to transform an encoded frame to an asynchronous insertablestream to support end-to-end encryption.
 12. The method of claim 1,wherein the first communication device is selected from a mobilecommunication device, a desktop computer communication device, and atablet communication device.
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